Too many staff members? Salary costs too high.

[Fiona]

Hi, I am not sure if my personal management is good or not, for example I just have a few work areas. The salary costs are that huge... Just some context:

I have 546 animals, 29 species. A large zoo with big enclosures ( much more space than needed sometimes to be honest ). 8 Veterinarians, 58 Animal keepers, 2 Securities, 50 Zoocleaners, 38 Salesman. 90% 5* workers, only some of the Cleaners are 3*.

The employees are happy, but sometimes at the limit ( too many dirt from animals and waste from people for examaple ). I can only run the zoo with profit while feeding the cheap food to the animals :/ So my question is - do I have too much and bad managed personal, or do you have similar figures?

[grampers62]

A very large zoo like that can be quite a handful. Some key things to keep cash up are checking guest thoughts at the entrance and raise the price till they say it is fair. Also be certain to have donation bins everywhere with education items nearby. Don't underestimate the cash flow of exhibits. With the new auto sell for them one can have multiple exhibits turning nice amounts of profit. Don't get too stressed over staff being in the red for being busy as long as they are happy. Work zones can make the staff more effective but again, don't stress over them unless there is a persistent issue in specific habitats. Beyond that it gets into a lot of micro management that I feel is not too necessary.

[Fiona]

Thanks for the tips. The zoo is running well, the guests are pretty happy and spend a lot of money, but yes, it became a bit handful :) The auto store or sell function is incredible helpful for the vivariums ( I have plenty of those ). Staff is max. orange, super rare red. Good to know that thats not a huge problem. And yes - the work arears are to many management for me, I use that just for 3 specific enclosures. I am not happy with the "cheap food for the animals" solution yet, but it is my fault. I have the maximum of herd members in nearly every species. And I keep them all even if they get old and infertile. Thats why I have a "retiree" herd of bisons, lamas and water buffaloes. And maybe I should reduce the 60+ lamas ;)

[grampers62]

Ha! 60 llamas! How many times have we all done that.