Game theory meets resource allocation in this metaphor-rich post.
You’re four hours into a shift pattern redesign. The client’s got new union rules, a pile of open shifts, and half the team on annual leave. Suddenly, it hits you:
You’re not managing a workforce—you’re playing Tetris.
Fit the Right Piece in the Right Place
In Tetris, success hinges on matching the right block to the right space, at the right time. That’s workforce planning in a nutshell. Every employee is a unique shape—skills, availability, preferences—and every shift is a moving target.
Just like in Tetris, the goal isn’t just filling space, but filling it efficiently. Waste a shift, and the gaps pile up. Force a bad fit, and things get messy fast.
The Clock Is Always Ticking
Tetris never lets you stop and admire your handiwork. Neither does real-world scheduling.
Labour laws shift. Demand forecasts evolve. Someone calls in sick.
You’ve got seconds to adjust—just like pivoting a block mid-air before it locks into place.
Agility matters. The ability to move fast and adapt underpins every high-functioning workforce plan.
It’s Not About the First Few Moves
Great Tetris players don’t just focus on the current piece—they anticipate the next ten.
That’s foresight. And in workforce management, that means forecasting:
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- When will demand spike?
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- Who’s approaching burnout?
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- What leave patterns are emerging?
Planning for the future isn’t a luxury—it’s the difference between cruising through levels or hitting “game over.”
The Penalty of Short-Term Thinking
In Tetris, patching a quick gap with the wrong piece might buy time—but it creates future chaos.
Sound familiar?
Overreliance on overtime, last-minute shift swaps, or untrained temps might keep the rota alive… for now. But long-term? Productivity suffers, morale drops, compliance risks increase.
Sustainable workforce planning means balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s impact.
Why the Best Players Use the Right Tools
No Tetris pro plays on a glitchy machine. The same goes for workforce leaders.
You can’t win the game without the right tools—and that’s where UKG Pro WFM, tailored by CDS, comes in.
We configure, optimise, and integrate your WFM platform so it reacts fast, forecasts well, and aligns to your business rules. No gaps, no panic, no missed blocks.
Ready to Level Up?
If workforce planning feels like a losing game, maybe it’s time for a better controller.
Talk to our team—let’s make sure your strategy, systems and scheduling stack up perfectly.