This factory was severely short on workers. Then it offered flexible work

A factory’s severe worker shortage is being addressed through flexible work, a shift that is spreading from white-collar roles to some blue-collar production jobs. In Lafayette, Georgia, manufacturers facing staffing challenges are allowing workers to choose hours and shift types rather than requiring a traditional 40-hour week. Companies including Stanley Black & Decker and Georgia-Pacific are cited, along with the Roper Corp. kitchen appliance plant in northwest rural Georgia, owned by GE Appliances. The model lets participants join a pool of more than 900 workers via an app and select multiple four-hour shifts weekly, including assignments such as quality control. The approach began during COVID-era demand surges when GE Appliances lacked labor and used MyWorkChoice to recruit, vet, and train workers to cover absences.