Providing HR Support for the Media and TV Production Industry
Managing a production company can be tough, especially when HR challenges are thrown into the mix.
With a mix of talent and freelancers, it can feel like you’re juggling a dozen moving parts.
Every step of the way, there’s a maze of laws and regulations to work your way through. Equality and diversity are front and centre, and you’re often working with short-term, fixed, or zero-hour contracts, so staying compliant is critical.
The #MeToo movement has rewritten the script on workplace dynamics, shining a spotlight on the importance of clear communication channels and whistleblowing policies. Your team needs to know they can safely raise concerns about harassment, discrimination, or bullying, and trust that you’ll act swiftly and decisively to resolve them.
There can be logistical challenges too. You’re often managing international shoots, coordinating talent from all over the world, working with agents, and navigating union agreements. It’s a lot to juggle—but with the right support, you can keep the production rolling smoothly and avoid any surprise plot twists.
Bespoke HR Support for the Media and TV Production Industry
- Bespoke HR policies
- Bespoke Contract of Employment
- People Management
- Business Change
- Employee Relations
- Pay and Benefits
Time is of the essence
Disputes and issues need to be handled quickly. When you’re working with a transient workforce, things can get tricky. If you wait too long to act, you might miss your window entirely—especially if contracts are up or filming wraps before the problem even comes to light.
And it’s not just about internal resolutions. If something serious crops up, you might have to alert the broadcaster and let them decide how to handle it—whether it’s adjusting the release or even pulling the program altogether. In some cases, you may also need to bring in PR, just in case the media spotlight turns your way.
Bespoke HR Policies
There are many circumstances that are unique to TV production and generic, off-the-shelf policies often don’t cut it. You’ll likely need to tailor them to fit your specific needs and avoid the risk of costly tribunals.
On top of that, the pandemic has completely changed what’s considered normal in the workplace, but in the world of TV production, these new rules can be especially tricky to navigate. COVID-19 has already driven up production costs, so it’s more important than ever to stay vigilant and avoid mistakes that could cost you even more.
Discover how we worked with Severn Screen to create people documentation to align with its culture.
Suggested HR policies for the Media and TV Production Industry
- Grievance Policy
- Bullying and Harassment Policy
- Family friendly policies
HR Expertise
During peak times, your set can be buzzing with activity as pre and postproduction overlap, with a lot of people working simultaneously. On the flip side, during postproduction, you might have fewer people on set, each stretched to their limit. To complicate things further, your Senior Management Team is likely juggling multiple projects. While their hands-on approach can be an asset, it often leaves them overextended, which can add to the complexity of managing everything smoothly.
Are you equipped to handle disputes and issues as and when they arise?
Whether you have in-house HR expertise ready to team up with external partners or you prefer to outsource all your HR needs, we at Fitzgerald can tailor our services to fit you. We offer tribunal insurance and handle your HR requirements, so you can focus on what you do best while we take care of the rest.
Fitzgerald provide us with an excellent HR solution for our business in the fast moving world of TV production, responding immediately to urgent problems. The team are all charming and seemingly unphased by anything, including the most unusual of HR issues.
Susy Liddell
COO & Director of Production
Drama Republic
Some of the Care providers we partner with to provide HR solutions
