HR policies and governance for Television production houses: norms for call, conduct and complaints on every floor
With many units, floors and shifts, the production house needs rules that every director and unit manager applies the same way, and that every crew member can read in two minutes.
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Share your requirementsWhy HR policies and governance matters in television production houses
When a show grows, each unit invents its own rules. One floor starts at eight, another at nine. One tolerates shouting, another does not. A complaint raised on one floor is dealt with by the manager, and on another it is ignored. Crew know the differences and compare them.
A short policy set fixes this. Rules on call and wrap, meals and rest, conduct and respect, safety, use of phones, handling of complaints and consequences. Each is one page in plain words, in the language the crew speak. Directors and unit managers are briefed and answerable for applying them. Ask a qualified professional to review the wording, especially on conduct and complaints.
How to set it up
1. List the rules already in practice
Walk each floor and note how call, meals, conduct and complaints are handled. Mark differences.
2. Draft short policies
One page for each topic, in plain words, in the language of the floor. State the rule, who is responsible and what happens if it is broken.
3. Brief directors and unit managers
Explain each rule, show how to apply it and agree what they will do when a rule is broken.
4. Share with the crew
Put copies on each floor, brief new joiners and answer questions. Record that each person has seen them.
5. Review twice a year
Check complaints raised, how they were handled and whether any rule needs changing. Use grievance handling records as evidence.
Check these first
Before changing anything, find out what is true today. These take an afternoon and use your own records.
- Compare start times, meal breaks and conduct norms across two floors.
- Ask three crew members how they would raise a complaint about a director.
- Check whether a complaint in the last year was recorded and answered.
- See whether new joiners are shown the policies on day one.
GullyHR can do this with you. Read how we approach HR policies and governance in general, or share your requirements and we will tell you where to start.
Questions owners ask
Start with a handful: call and rest, conduct, safety, phones and complaints. Add more only when a real problem calls for one.
The language the crew speak on the floor, with simple words. A policy that few can read does not work.
The unit manager and director on the floor, backed by the production manager. Rules lose force if senior people are seen to break them.