Originally Posted by Bart
At our airport, supervisors are free to ask for assistance from the other terminal. However, there are other factors to consider such as the anticipated flight load. Need to make sure that you don't shoot yourself in the foot by undermanning your checkpoint (or baggage pods) while trying to help someone else. The onus is on the busy supervisor to ask for help rather than the one who's not busy to arbitrarily send additional screeners. Mind-reading isn't one of the KSAs for supervisors.
Mind reading wouldn't be necessary. Doesn't each checkpoint have a phone or someone with a walkie talkie? Is someone watching the security cameras who would be able to tell when screeners aren't being allocated efficiently? Shouldn't taxpayers be able to expect that resources be used in a more productive manner?