While the transition from Sodexho to Aramark has been a smooth and pleasant one for the student body, the process has been rocky to say the least for the employees.
Understandably Aramark offered all Sodexho employees interviews, but only offered permanent positions upon reevaluation. Aramark has made valiant strides to address the concerns that students have voiced over the years, and a part of that meant rethinking the efficiency of the staff. Aramark appears to have a problem, however, balancing the fine line between satisfying undergraduates and keeping its employees content.
The simple summary is this: While students currently benefit, employess who have been working on the Homewood campus for many years are enduring setbacks. If Aramark does not address the problems concerning its staff soon, then in the end it's the students who will once again suffer.
A standout issue is the negative atmosphere and mentality that has befallen the staff. Employees who have earned their jobs should not work under conditions where they feel they are slowly being weeded out.
Not only does this sort of outlook influence the morale of the workers, but it also affects the entire dining experience as a whole. Concerns with employee health, dental and vision insurance should also be promptly dealt with.
Dining employees should be able to have a union that is recognized by Aramark in order to efficiently address these sorts of concerns. By facilitating the pathways of communication, Aramark can save itself a good deal of future frustration and embarrassment and not risk tarnishing the positive image they have already built with the student body.
It's obvious that Aramark wants to solidify a strong, positive impression on the Homewood campus. But they must be prompt in responding to employee complaints. They must make it possible for their workers to unionize with barriers. In their current situation it does not seem they are working hard enough.
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