As the time for the Olympics draws closer, University of Utah employees have a better understanding of how much the Games will disturb campus life.
From now until the end of March, the atmosphere at the U will be anything but typical. As U parking lots become Olympic parking lots, and students move out of the dorms, many U employees wonder about their work schedules. Other employees wonder if they will have hours to work.
Vice President for Human Resources Loretta Harper has been working on a solution to this problem for months. In September, Harper’s office sent an email to deans, directors and administrators hoping to trigger more conversation and spread information about the month-long break for the Olympics.
From Feb. 2 to Feb. 26, school is out of session. At that time, the world will be focusing its attention on Salt Lake City. U President Bernie Machen has tried to stress the fact that the university will be open for “business somewhat as usual” during that time.
Business hours for offices such as the Registrar Office and the counselling center may be slightly different, but their doors will remain open.
The Marriott Library will have limited hours as well. Marriott Director Sarah Michalak said the library will not be open during usual night-time hours.
This means there is a limited number of hours that need to be covered by employees.
Other departments across campus have encountered other problems.
The library employs dozens of students. These employees are temporary and are paid by the hour. Because the library will be closed during the evening, employees will either be out of work?without pay?or they will need to work daytime hours.
Michalak has arranged for students who still need the hours to work during the day. But not all departments of the U will make arrangements for their non salaried employees.
“In August, we had the supervisors ask the employees if they were going to be here or not during the Games. We wanted to have an idea of the size of the work force we would be working with,” said Michalak.
Many of the employees have decided to go home during that time, she said.
But the library employees may be a exception to the case. Other U student employees have not yet been told what their work situation will be in February.
Harper said that departments will need to decide whether or not to allow night employees to work day-time hours during the Olympics.
“The decision must be made on a department level. The directors and department heads know best what will be the best resolution for their offices,” Harper said.
On Feb. 6 and Feb. 8, the entire campus will close for the practice for and presentation of the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Salaried employees will receive pay that day without coming to work.
That is the only exception.
Employees who must work overtime during the Olympics will receive payment of time and one half for their work. On the other hand, those employees who do not work their 40 hours a week for which they are paid must use vacation time to compensate for their absence, Harper said.
Many faculty members are upset that they must use their vacation hours if they choose not to come up to the U during that time.
One such employee, John Flynn, a law professor, addressed the Academic Senate meeting last month with an alternate proposal.
He feels that because of the parking problems at the U and because of the traffic congestion for the events, it will be inconvenient for many employees to come to work, Flynn said.
Flynn does not believe it is fair that employees who do not need to be here will have to be here in order to be paid. He said that he does not want to be forced to use his vacation time in February.
The Human Resource Office created a loop hole for employees who don’t want to be here but want to be paid.
Salaried employees who must work extra hours in preparation for the Olympics may count on that time for hours during the Olympic break at a rate of time and a half.
For instance, for every hour worked now, the employee can stay home and receive wages for an hour and a half during the break.
Harper encourages all employees to plan ahead. “Talk to your supervisors and make sure you plan now so that you can make the most of the break, whatever your needs are,” she said.