Managing Elevated Staffing, Training Protocols

As if the additional workload wasn’t enough, the pandemic also dramatically affected staffing levels for many BSCs. Initially, the pandemic caused worker layoffs in response to the cancellation of in-person events. But today, changing regulations, increased vaccination requirements and a push for normalcy are bringing back big crowds, which means BSCs must ramp up staffing again.

New crews and new safety protocols means BSCs must also fully train employees before they can get to work inside a facility. Management must also deal with its crew members’ varying vaccination statuses and sensitivities about the COVID-19 virus.

“Not everybody is wearing a mask and not everybody is vaccinated. Then I have employees who don’t want to work in certain areas because of the exposure they might receive,” says Donaldson. “It’s really challenging, and we have to get creative with who works in which areas.”

All of these challenges coincide with unprecedented labor shortages.

“Labor is the universal problem these days,” says Mingo. “It’s the nature of the beast, and we’ve had to work with our customers to address that need.”

Mingo says Marsden Holding has greatly expanded its recruiting efforts, bringing on more talent-acquisition specialists than before the pandemic. The company has also “considerably” upped its hourly pay rates, and has accommodated part-time workers who wanted to move to full-time work.

“We’ve had to add additional labor to our operations, and it’s something that customers have been willing to pay for,” says Mingo.