No-Shows Cost Millions – Here’s How a Reliable Staff Shuttle Fixes That

The food production industry is the backbone of the US supply chain, ensuring that grocery shelves are stocked and food reaches millions of consumers every day. Behind the scenes though, an ongoing crisis is causing significant disruptions to operations; employee absenteeism. Unplanned absences and no-shows are costing the industry millions of dollars each year in lost productivity, increased overtime expense and operational inefficiencies.

The solutions? Reliable and fully managed staff shuttle services that eliminate transportation barriers contributing to absenteeism. Implementing such a service can help food production companies stabilize their workforce, improve efficiency and reduce financial losses.

What is the true cost of absenteeism in food production?

Absenteeism is a growing challenge for most industries, yet food production is particularly vulnerable due to its labor-intensive nature and just-in-time supply chain requirements. A small percentage of absent workers can cause a significant ripple effect on supply and demand. Consider the following:

• The average cost of absenteeism for US businesses is $3,600 per hourly employee, per year.

• Unplanned absences can cause productivity losses upwards of 37% in disrupted workflows.

• 47% of absences require costly overtime, increasing payroll expense and cutting into (already stretched) margins.

• Operational downtime and missed deadlines can lead to supply chain bottlenecks, food waste and reduced consumer satisfaction.

For food production businesses that rely on shift based work and tight schedules, even a handful of no-shows can delay entire production lines, forcing employers to scramble for last minute replacements or pay overtime to cover the deficit.

How can reliable staff shuttles help combat absenteeism?

For a large number of food production workers, transportation (or lack of) can be a key barrier to consistent work attendance. Shift workers often struggling with:

Limited public transit availability - Food production facilities are more often than not located in industrial zones or rural areas with limited or nonexistent access to public transit.

Unreliable commuting options - Transportation alternatives, like car travel, ridesharing or carpooling can be inconsistent, inconvenient or unaffordable.

Long & stressful commutes - Limited transit availability can lead to multiple transfers, early starts or additional expenses, resulting in higher turnover or absenteeism as workers look for employment without the inconvenience of a long or stressful commute. 

How Zeelo’s tailored shuttle programs address no-shows

Zeelo’s staff transportation solutions are designed to keep food production lines running smoothly, improve workforce stability/efficiency and reduce costs (both the cost of no-shows and the incurred costs of onboarding new employees to pick up the slack).

Increased attendance

Offering reliable and scheduled transportation, Zeelo is able to reduce absenteeism rates, ensuring that employees are physically and consistently able to get to work, regardless of location or shift times.

‍Cost efficient workforce management

With predictable employee arrivals powered by live tracking and monitored trips, companies are better able to optimize shift planning, avoid costly last minute staffing adjustments and reduce reliance on overtime pay.

Increased employee retention

Stress free commutes can enhance employee morale, reduce pre-work fatigue and encourage career longevity. Companies that provide reliable transportation for their workers tend to see lower turnover and reduced hiring costs.

Seasonal scalability

Demand fluctuates throughout the year in Food Production, particularly during peak summer and pre holiday seasons. Zeelo provides the flexibility needed to scale programs up or down as required to ensure consistent workforce availability without sacrificing efficiency or driving unnecessary costs.

Improved recruitment processes

Access to reliable transportation removes geographical hiring barriers, allowing food production employers to recruit from a broader talent pool without overlooking applicants in rural areas or those underserved by public transit. 

How to turn absenteeism into productivity

In a dog eat dog industry where time is of the essence and every shift matters, unreliable employee attendance can have a domino effect on production efficiency, product delivery and bottom line performance. A lack of reliable transportation should never be the reason for lost revenue or a struggle to maintain operations. 
When workers can’t make their shifts reliably, the impact is far more than just an empty workstation. Zeelo flips the script on absenteeism by offering a service that is both predictable and tailored to the unique needs of both the employer and employee. With consistent route optimization, fully managed service delivery and scalability, Zeelo can ensure employees get to work on time every time; helping businesses maintain smooth operations and maximize productivity. A simple investment in transportation can lead to considerable gains in workforce stability, output consistency and overall profitability.

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Want to see how Zeelo can transform your workforce logistics? Let’s talk!

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