Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) Practice Exam

What does staggered scheduling involve?

1. Scheduling staff to come in at different times

2. Creating a fixed work schedule for all employees

3. Allowing employees to choose their own work hours

4. Enforcing mandatory overtime for all staff

The correct answer is: Scheduling staff to come in at different times

Staggered scheduling involves organizing staff shifts so that employees arrive, work, and leave at different times rather than all at once. This approach is often used to ensure coverage during busy periods, reduce congestion during peak hours, and accommodate the varying needs of employees. By implementing staggered schedules, managers can enhance productivity, improve service levels, and potentially increase employee satisfaction by allowing more flexibility in work hours. Other options focus on different scheduling methods; fixed schedules standardize hours for all employees, allowing for less flexibility. Self-chosen work hours can create challenges in team coordination and coverage. Mandatory overtime often leads to employee dissatisfaction and fatigue rather than an organized approach to staffing. Thus, the nature of staggered scheduling is characterized by its flexibility and strategic timing rather than uniformity or compulsion.