Its a chicken and egg scenario. Which came first? The backlog caused by the calls or the calls caused by the backlog?
Transfer times are what they are directly because of how the process is run and staffed.
First
The reality is that in Ontario from at least the late 90s is there is no such thing staffing to need vs staffing to budget. Budget is set to optimistic work volume at about 80-85% of reality with no cushion or surplus.
That means existing staff are made to work to make up other staff sick time, materinity leaves, vacations etc in addition to regular duties with the predictable result on output and delays.
Floaters, spare staff etc are a fairy tale from the long gone past.
Second
The delay must recieve some sort of excuse with what ever comes to mind. 'We are behind because management is not staffing us
properly' is not going to be something they are going to say unless they are really letting their guard down or are completely stress out or want
to be looking for new opportunites.
Occasionally you will get some comments closer to reality and the truth due to stress or trust when one of the staff speaks to callers in categories
like retail, enforcement or government.
Third
The only job duty that management sees to and insists (read threatens dire consequences if not performed) is that phones are answered.
Phones going to voice mail stirs management up on their hind legs and out from hibernation. It does not matter how they are answered
but they must be answered. So high call volumes generally will slow non phone/enquiry driven regular duties to a crawl or full stop.
Friend recently got his retailer purchase transfer after waiting from April 23rd.
Store told him that when they were calling in new transfers they were told that there are;
Four staff members doing transfers
They are 1500 behind.
Expect 3-4 weeks.
So 1500 over 4 staff over 3 weeks is about 25 transfers a day. Well below what could be done but they just don't do transfers they have to deal with other things.
The big thing is phone calls. Phones must be answered if at all possible.
Yes when they get behind the calls coming in become a postive feedback loop slowing everything down but that is how the beast is designed.