Money | Why Payroll Doesn't Have to be a Performance

Time and attendance data input used to be tiresome first act for the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) in preparation for every payroll run. The leisure giant, which operates 30 UK theatre, music and cinema venues, has a ‘cast’ of thousands, and it would take many hours to amass the entries from its old paper-based system.

But the tedious process has now taken its final bow – saving time and money – replaced and automated by Crown Workforce Management’s system.

From front of house and technical, to ticketing, customer experience and catering, all ATG’s players now directly input their attendance into the time and attendance program – simply recording complex working arrangements.

Tamsin McDowell, HR Systems Partner, at ATG, explained: “Venues were functioning fine but as a central head office resource, we had no access to any time and attendance information and therefore no oversight of what staff were doing at various venues and their associated costs. In addition, payroll had become very time-consuming. We needed something more effective and efficient that allowed us an overview of all venues so we could measure and compare the sites to establish best practice and address any issues. The added advantage was that we are able to give show producers more accurate venue costs ahead of time.”