September 15, 2013
Based on strong input from members, a short-and-concise compensation and benefits survey was recently sponsored, developed and sent to 220 professional presenting member organizations across the country, including those from the following networks:
- Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta
- Atlantic Presenters Association
- BC Touring Council
- CAPACOA
- CCI-Ontario Presenting Network
The overall purpose is one piece to help support building healthy work environments that incorporate:
- positive HR policies and practices
- attractive compensation levels
- health and LTD benefits packages
- continuous, personal, professional, and career development (coaching, training, mentorship, apprenticeship)
- post-career preparation.
Almost 90 members provided wage/salary information on one or more job titles from a list of common and emerging roles. As well, they indicated whether or not they provide a range of health, work and pension benefits, and also were given an opportunity to provide free-format examples of innovative practices they’re using which could be used by others.
Summary tidbits include:
- Representation: All but one province, plus Yukon
- Presenter categories: “performing arts venue” and “festival / presenter without venue”
- Average venue capacity: 557; average festival attendance: 15,340
- Average full-time staff: 9; average part-time staff: 18
- Municipally-run venue: 21%
- Non-unionized: Approx. 70%
- Operating budgets: under $500 thousand to over $4 million, with an average of approximately $1.2 million
- Government support for operating budgets: approx. 27% for presenters with venues, and 38% for festivals / presenters without venue
- Performance bonuses: about 10% of senior positions, based on either individual and/or organizational results
- Health benefits: roughly 2/3 offered basic dental and prescription drug coverage, with other items dropping off in frequency from there
- Work benefits: 2/3 offered flexible time and professional development, with other items, again, dropping off from there, such as complimentary event tickets, laptops and smartphones
- Pensions: Approximately 40% (Defined Benefit, Defined Contribution, or Group RRSP)
Clearly, a short-and-concise survey with a fairly small sample size can only be considered one data point in making HR-related decisions such as setting compensation levels to attract and retain the right people. Organizations can and do make conscious decisions to go above or below averages based on their own strategic considerations. Still, over 80% found it a useful exercise and offered suggestions for improvement.
For a copy of the complete survey, please e-mail us.
We’re looking at other opportunities to support members in the HR arena. Stay tuned for more on that…