Our Customer
World leaders in the design and manufacture of respiratory care devices, who export to over 110 countries globally, and are the largest company on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
Project Description
We have partnered with this customer for over 10 years. In 2019, our average number of field employees was 197. Presently this now sit at over 1,100 onsite employees.
The increase in site numbers was due to the COVID-19 pandemic; our customer was facing a massive global demand for their products and had to double, and in some cases triple their output.
Project Solution
From March 2019 to 2022, the site grew six times in size. Throughout this time, the company alongside many others in New Zealand, faced several challenges due to the COVID-19 lockdowns and protocols. For example, employees were required to wear masks and remain working two metres away from one another to maintain social distancing. Programmed was required to manage this workforce to these protocols, there was a continued requirement to physically induct and assess employees under the same guidelines.
The unprecedent demand also saw the need for the business to operate 24/7, as well as, introducing a “weekend only” workforce. We were required to source and physically assesses skilled workers to only work on the weekend, with a workforce of 150 field employees.
To support these requirements, we:
- Developed an extensive sourcing campaign which incorporated social media, referral programs and our branch networks – we were particularly pleased to re-deploy all our Auckland based OSEs who were released from other clients due to COVID-19 and have them in new work immediately.
- Re-designed and aligned our onsite team to be accountable for key deliverables; specifically relating to sourcing, performance and workforce management, compliance and inductions.
- Seconded employees from across our branches and operations outside their peak to support the current team.
- Utilised technology including Dashboard and timeclocks, bespoke rostering, and timesheet approval, all developed to meet these challenges of scale. The Dashboard and GO App technologies provided the client with real time reporting and much faster time and attendance approval options. Moving to the GO App meant we were able to meet their COVID-19 response team request to have a touch free clock-in option and eliminate groups congregating at the clock-in stations.
- Collaborated on a COVID-19 sick leave support package. Programmed committed to pay two additional sick days (if the employee does not have sufficient or any accruals) and our customer paid three days. This supported staff being able to take sick leave even if they didn’t have any regular sick days available and not have them be at work with COVID-19 symptoms.
Project Outcome
We were able to ramp up to meet our customers’ requirements over a four-week period with minimal notice.
