Over Half of Retail Managers Blame Admin for Productivity Paralysis

Retail managers, overwhelmed with administrative tasks and manual processes, are struggling to find sufficient time to coach and develop their teams, leaving sorely-needed labour productivity gains on the table, the latest research from Legion Technologies, an innovator in workforce management (WFM), reveals.

New Research Highlights Managerial Challenges

Original research of over 1,000 UK retail and hospitality workers in the 2025 State of the UK Hourly Worker report reveals that over half (52%) of retail managers feel they lack time for coaching and team development, while nearly a third (27%) don’t feel they have been set up for success in their role.

Manual Processes Drain Time and Efficiency

Repetitive administrative tasks were one of the key causes which take retail managers’ time away from colleagues and customers.

• 65% currently spend 3+ hours per week on scheduling

• 52% spend over three hours weekly on time and attendance management

• 42% still use paper or Excel for scheduling

• 46% manually call, text or email to fill last-minute shifts

The Cost of Neglecting Team Development

With admin eating up a significant portion of managers’ time, frontline teams are left without the mentoring and coaching needed to improve productivity. This is especially concerning as retailers face an additional £5.6 billion in post-Budget costs this financial year.

Call for Tech-Driven Workforce Solutions

This underscores the need for technology-driven workforce management solutions to replace time-consuming manual processes, allowing managers to focus on strategic operations, employee engagement, and customer experience (CX).

Expert Insight: Investing in People and Productivity

Eoin Houlihan, VP of Europe at Legion Technologies, commented:

“Retailers are facing an epidemic of productivity paralysis and urgently need the innovative tools that allow them to invest in both productivity and people. Engaged and motivated employees make for a productive and resilient workforce, so by unburdening managers from administrative tasks and investing in the employee experience, retailers can drive the operational efficiencies they need to mitigate against rising cost bases, all while enhancing workforce morale and dialling up performance.”

Learn More

To find out more about how retailers can maximise labour efficiency and employee engagement simultaneously, view the full report: 2025 State of the UK Hourly Workforce Report.