The president of Western Kentucky University says building services attendants will get “pretty similar” benefits when their work is transferred to a private contractor.
In a budget-cutting move announced this week, around 200 BSAs will work for Sodexo after July 31. Dr. Gary Ransdell took questions from them and other employees at a forum Thursday afternoon.
Under the change, employees will get fewer sick days. That’s a concern for Paul Barbour, whose wife works as a BSA. Barbour says she’s taken a lot of time off because of ailments related to a car accident. Barbour fears the Sodexo will put productivity over people.
"Her main concern is that she's going to lose her job because Sodexo, being a private contract company, will not be as lenient with her as Western was because they're more into getting things done than being nice to employees," Barbour told WKU Public Radio.
Sodexo is also expected to offer less paid vacation time around Christmas time. Employees will get three days off in December compared to the 10 days they were given by WKU. No BSAs will lose their jobs. They'll also receive a one dollar per hour raise when they transfer to Sodexo.
BSAs who have worked for WKU for at least 20 years will remain university employees and get to keep their current benefits package.
