Brief Sketch of the Company and Department

This company operates in the creative sector, employing 330 individuals, with activities including work in the theater industry. A technical team supports performances with tasks such as unloading materials from trucks, setting up the stage as per the plan, monitoring during shows, managing the artists’ lounge, and dismantling and reloading trucks post-performance.

Explanation of the Company’s Request and Purpose of the Analysis

The organisation is struggling to find replacements or reinforcements that can immediately fulfill the role of stage technician, a position in high demand. The company sees an opportunity to optimize the expertise of its existing theater technicians during peak moments by redistributing supportive tasks, potentially assigning them to minimally trained workers. This company is committed to a socially responsible HR policy. Thus, it seeks to determine whether the current costs of interim labour services outweigh the benefits of hiring a versatile worker or stagehand who currently faces barriers to the mainstream labour market.

Conclusion from the Analysis

In this company, many tasks currently performed by experienced and specialised stage technicians could be completed by individuals with a distance to the labour market. For instance:

• Fetching and assembling speakers and microphones: This allows skilled technicians to focus on calibrating the equipment, saving significant time.
• Cleaning the stage lights: A backlog in this area affects lighting quality. Regular maintenance would yield substantial benefits.
• Repairing minor equipment defects: Addressing these promptly could reduce costs associated with purchasing new materials.

Result

A permanent stagehand can take on the role of assistant stage technician, helping relieve experienced technicians during peak periods. This assistant could also handle ongoing tasks that are currently neglected. Unlike interim hires, a permanent stagehand would become familiar with the specific tasks, enabling independent work and easing the workload for permanent technicians.

Win-Win for the Company

The challenge of finding qualified workers at short notice during busy periods would be significantly reduced or resolved. The budget for this solution is justified when comparing current expenses on interim staffing with the cost-effectiveness of a permanent hire.

Additional Insights

The technicians view the addition of an assistant as a significant advantage, as it allows them to focus on their specialised skills. They welcome the idea of onboarding their new colleague