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  • 1.  PT vs FT for all Visitor Experience related positions

    Posted 02-28-2024 12:21 PM

    Hello to all. I come to this professional forum looking for guidance:

    We currently have three large teams of Part Time staff for front desk, security and gallery guides. We are looking into how feasible and cost effective it would be to have a smaller team of Full Time staff that rotate through the three public-facing positions. Even if it may cost a little more to set it up, we think it will be cost effective or the same in terms of payroll in the long run, but will allow us to offer staff FT employment benefits, offer them work experience in a wider range of skills and tasks, improve visitor service overall, and hopefully improve retention. 

    We were hoping to chat with other museums or cultural institutions doing something similar to learn from them.

    I thank you in advance for any guidance or info you can share.

    Diana Pena

    Director of Education and Public Programs

    Nasher Museum of Art

    diana.pena@duke.edu



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    Diana Pena
    Director of Education and Public Programs
    Durham NC
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  • 2.  RE: PT vs FT for all Visitor Experience related positions

    Posted 02-29-2024 07:08 AM

    Diana, to what extent do you use volunteer staff in visitor-facing floor staff duties? More volunteer involvement might help you better balance this equation.



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    John Wharton
    Museum Docent &
    Retired Museum Professional
    Bonita Springs FL
    http://linkedin.com/in/john-wharton-9629149
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: PT vs FT for all Visitor Experience related positions

    Posted 02-29-2024 09:47 AM

    John, thank you for your question and recommendation. We do not really have a volunteer program. We do take a couple of volunteers on occasion when we both, museum and volunteer, have a very specific task or purpose for it, such as a specific project and a student needing service hours or as part of service learning programs. The main reason for not having a volunteer program is that we fully believe that people should and must be compensated for their work, so we have the Gallery Guide program which is a part-time position.

    Our curiosity regarding having full-time staff that rotate through public facing roles comes mainly from a place of equity (being able to offer people full-time benefits) and improving our visitor service best practices overall. ROI and staff retention are collateral results that, even if desirable, are not the fuel for exploring this option. 

    I am curious to know if there are other museums or cultural institutions doing something similar.

    Thank you again and happy weekend,

    Diana Pena

    Director of Education and Public Programs

    Nasher Museum of Art

    diana.pena@duke.edu



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    Diana Pena
    Director of Education and Public Programs
    Durham NC
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: PT vs FT for all Visitor Experience related positions

    Posted 02-29-2024 09:44 AM

    Hi Diana,

    I went through a similar process at Winterthur Musuem, Gardens & Library, for the same reasons you indicated, and it worked as hoped. In the security department I looked at the staffing level we had year-round and converted those positions into full time. I still maintained several part time staff to help out covering time off for the full-time staff, functions, and extended hours. My full-time staff have a set schedule of days and hours. My part time staff are able to sign up for any open shift they are trained for.  I did have to make an adjustment to this plan by hiring some staff to work Saturdays and Sundays. My part time staff would fill all the scheduling holes during the week first and if they had enough hours would not be interested in picking up weekend shift. Full time staff would also take weekend days off more than weekdays. This left us with a staff of approximately 17 full time and 15 part time. With this plan we were able to the drive the amount of overtime and open shifts to be very minimal. 

    I hope this helps; I would be happy to discuss it further if you like.

    Chris



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    Christopher Provan
    Chief Security Officer
    Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
    Winterthur DE
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: PT vs FT for all Visitor Experience related positions

    Posted 02-29-2024 09:46 AM

    Diana,

    I would advise reserving some positions as part-time. This would allow you to also hire some valuable workers who are only looking for part-time work such as students, retirees or people who are raising families. Many of our guest service volunteers are retirees who have years of experience in working with the public but they are only looking to be busy a few days a week. I think a mix of full-time and part-time positions would be optimal. Perhaps the full-time positions could have slightly more responsibilites than the part-time positions. 

    All the best, 



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    Jason Aikens
    Collections Curator
    Pro Football Hall of Fame
    Canton OH
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: PT vs FT for all Visitor Experience related positions

    Posted 02-29-2024 11:50 AM

    Hi Diana,

    We are actually in the middle of a very similar process, trying to find the balance between PT and FT Visitor Services staff members. We're a municipal museum, so I am working with our personnel department to add a few full time VS staff but keep the part time option to keep the positions as inclusive as possible, like Jason and Christopher mentioned. It also helps with scheduling, leave, holidays that are required by the City but we are still open to the public. 

    Hope this helps, feel free to reach out for more information.

    Best,

    Sarah Graves
    Manager of Visitor Engagement | Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
    sgraves@mmfa.org



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    Sarah Graves PhD
    Visitor Experience Manager
    Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
    Montgomery AL
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: PT vs FT for all Visitor Experience related positions

    Posted 03-01-2024 08:12 AM
    I'm going to enter this discussion mostly to advocate for starting a volunteer program of docents or guides, or whatever your preferred terminology might be.  There's tremendous effort (and potential expense) in start-up, but in my experience it is well worth it.

    The most noticeable benefit is community involvement and commitment.  I think you'll find that research supports the concept that volunteers (getting to know the institution so well as they do) are more generous contributors.  Having a cadre of community ambassadors is, in my opinion, invaluable.  Also, having been the director (now retired) of an academic museum, I know that local alumni love showing visitors the treasure(s) that was part of their educational experience.

    Vivian



    Original Message


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