Scaling With People Building Flexibility at Scale: The New Survival Strategy for Modern Business with James Terry
Workforce flexibility isn't what you think it is. While most businesses scramble to plug staffing gaps when demand spikes, true flexibility comes from strategic planning that anticipates shifts before they happen.
James Terry, a workforce transformation leader at Indeed Flex, reveals how businesses can build resilience through data-driven labor planning. "Flexibility actually starts with being able to do effective labor planning," Terry explains. "Understanding operationally what's happening on the ground level, how many orders you're getting from customers, and how demand increases or decreases over time." This approach creates a powerful flywheel effect, where each adjustment provides insights that improve future staffing decisions.
The podcast dives deep into how employee expectations have fundamentally changed. Today's workers expect the same convenience and options in their employment that they experience as consumers. Just as we can order products online and have them delivered within hours, employees want flexibility in when, where, and how they work. Smart companies are adapting by rethinking traditional scheduling patterns and exploring more responsive approaches to workforce management.
Perhaps most eye-opening is Terry's perspective on Employer Value Propositions. "Your EVP doesn't start after someone's been there for a year," he emphasizes. "It starts the first time they put eyeballs on your job posting." With nearly half of applicants abandoning the process if they don't hear back within a week, companies must recognize that every touchpoint shapes their ability to attract talent. The discussion also tackles AI's role in recruiting (hint: it's not about getting more applications), the importance of rating systems over resumes, and practical strategies for future-proofing against labor shortages.
Ready to stop playing defense and start dominating your market through workforce innovation? Listen now and discover how flexibility at scale becomes your competitive advantage in chaotic times. As Terry advises: "Fail often and fall forward." Your workforce strategy depends on it.