"Don Y" wrote in message

stuff snipped

The same is true of places like the post office. Folks invariably
complain about how INefficient the process is of conducting business
at the counter: "Why don't they have more cashiers?" From the
Post Office's perspective, it is more efficient to have their
minimal staff utilized at 100% while YOU wait than it would be for
them to have EXTRA staff that might incur idle periods (idle = lost
efficiency).

I've noticed in a number of places (the 5 guy hamburger chain, Chipotle's,
Paneras to name a few) when the cashier isn't busy at the register she/he
has a whole host of other things to do, like cleaning the windows,
straightening up the chairs and tables, etc. The key to not having idle
time problems is to make sure it's all absorbed doing other tasks that are
not particularly time sensitive.

--
Bobby G.