The number of students working in the dining halls doubled this fall after the Residence Hall Dining Service raised hourly wages by 75 cents to $6.25. More than 300 students are working, up from last year's total of around 100 to 150 students, Karen Adkins, assistant director of personnel for Dining Services, said.
Part of the increase is a result of jobs being added to the Atrium. Also, the Bookmark Caf+â-¬, which will be staffed by Atrium employees, is set to open Sept. 12 in the library.
The wage increase had the effect Dining Services wanted, Adkins said, by getting more student employees and alleviating a workforce that was understaffed at times last year.
"In the past, we couldn't fill our student jobs," Adkins said. "Caused us to have customer service issues, caused a lot of stress on our staff. This has alleviated that. The wage increase has done what we needed it to do."
In addition, Adkins said she expected the student employee numbers to continue increasing, especially after Labor Day, when many students decide where to work. About 68 percent of the student shifts are filled, a number which is up significantly from last year. Adkins said she hoped to get 100 percent of the shift openings filled, but the afternoon shifts tend to be a struggle to fill, because many students have class.
Students choose their own hours, so the number of hours they work varies from a few hours a week to 20 hours. Having more students ensures more shifts will be filled, and the 130 to 150 full-time employees won't have to shoulder as large of a burden.
After conducting a survey, Dining Services concluded a wage increase needed to make sure students received market wages, Adkins said. Full-time employees also received a 4 percent wage increase.
In addition to the overall raise for students, a new longevity wage increase program was implemented. Each semester a student works for Dining Services they will receive a 25 cent increase, with a total hourly wage limit of $7. Dining Services hopes the longevity plan will keep students working for it year after year, Adkins said.
"Want to reward those students who stay with us each semester," Adkins said. "[We're] encouraging students to work with us all four years."
Junior Jimmy Ryan likes the changes but feels that he should already be experiencing a longevity wage increase.
"I worked there last year. I like [the changes], but I don't feel that I am being compensated for the time I already put in," Ryan said.
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