The term refers to the time for which call center employees are paid but are unavailable to handle customer interactions. This unavailability stems from activities such as breaks, meetings, training sessions, and unscheduled absences. For example, if a call center has 100 agents scheduled for an eight-hour shift, but collectively those agents spend 50 hours in meetings and 30 hours on breaks, the resulting lost productivity contributes directly to an increased shrinkage percentage.
Understanding and managing this metric is crucial for efficient resource allocation and service level maintenance. Effective minimization strategies can lead to optimized staffing, reduced operational costs, and improved customer experience. Historically, this factor has been a significant challenge for contact centers, requiring continuous evaluation and adaptation of workforce management practices to maintain optimal agent utilization.