Problem $3$

The workforce requirements $($expressed as the number of emplovees needed$)$ at a package sorting center are given in the following table for the next six periods. The relevant costs are:

Wages $=$$$\frac{5000}{?}$ month$/$worker

Hiring cost $=$$$500/$worker

Layoff cost $=$$$\frac{250}{?}$ worker

Overtime cost $=150\%$ of regular$-$time rate

The current workforce level is $30,$ and overtime cannot exceed $25\%$ of regular$-$time capacity.

For a level strategy in this service example:

a$.$ What particular piece of information helps you decide the number of workers needed?