1. What is Planned Shrinkage?

Planned Shrinkage is a workforce management metric that calculates the percentage of scheduled time that employees are not available for productive work due to planned activities such as breaks, meetings, training, and other non-productive tasks.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Planned Shrinkage formula:

Where:

• Planned Non-Productive Time — Time allocated for breaks, meetings, training, etc. (hours)
• Total Scheduled Time — Total time employees are scheduled to work (hours)

Explanation: The formula calculates the percentage of scheduled time that is not available for productive work, helping organizations plan workforce requirements more accurately.

3. Importance of Planned Shrinkage Calculation

Details: Calculating planned shrinkage is essential for effective workforce planning, resource allocation, and capacity management. It helps organizations account for non-productive time when scheduling staff and ensures adequate coverage for operational needs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter planned non-productive time and total scheduled time in hours. Both values must be positive numbers, with total scheduled time greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What activities are considered planned non-productive time?
A: This includes scheduled breaks, team meetings, training sessions, coaching, and other planned activities that take employees away from their primary work tasks.

Q2: How does planned shrinkage differ from unplanned shrinkage?
A: Planned shrinkage accounts for scheduled non-productive time, while unplanned shrinkage includes unexpected absences like sick leave, emergencies, or unscheduled breaks.

Q3: What is a typical planned shrinkage percentage?
A: This varies by industry and organization, but typically ranges from 15% to 35% depending on the nature of work and organizational policies.

Q4: How often should planned shrinkage be calculated?
A: It should be calculated regularly as part of workforce planning, typically weekly or monthly, and whenever there are significant changes to schedules or policies.

Q5: Can planned shrinkage be reduced?
A: Yes, through efficient scheduling, minimizing unnecessary meetings, optimizing break times, and streamlining training processes, though some shrinkage is necessary for employee well-being and development.