The Vermont State Colleges has joined the University of Vermont in calling on food-service provider Sodexo to hold off on the implementation of changes in the way it classifies employees.
In a letter to Sodexo issued Tuesday, VSC Chancellor Tim Donovan said the colleges could not approve Sodexo’s proposed changes in assessing the status of full-time workers until it has had time to evaluate the impact on food service workers at VSC.
That was essentially the message UVM President Tom Sullivan sent to Sodexo on Friday.
Sodexo recently declared that it was redefining full-time employment as an average of 30 hours per week over the course of a year. The company said it was doing so to comply with its understanding of mandates in the Affordable Care Act. The proposed reclassification could affect the benefits status for many college food service staff because they work fewer hours in the summer.
According to VSC spokesman Dan Smith, 69 of the 109 full-time Sodexo workers at the system’s four campuses (VTC-Randolph, Johnson, Lyndon and Castleton) would be affected by the change, and 23 of those receive health insurance through Sodexo.
Donovan, in his letter to Sodexo, says the proposal triggers a clause in VSC’s contract with Sodexo that reads: “a substantial change to wages, fringe benefits and working conditions requires the VSC’s prior approval.”
Donovan’s letter listed three potential effects on food service workers if Sodexo’s changes were approved:
• Those employees redefined as part time no longer would have access to Sodexo health and dental care benefits but would be able to access equivalent benefits through Vermont Health Connect (the “Exchange”). Sodexo’s current premium arrangement covers 80% of the costs of premiums for full time employees. Participating employees pay 20%.
• Those employees redefined as part time would lose eligibility to participate in the Sodexo vacation plan. Sodexo has indicated it would adjust wages to make up for the value of lost vacation time.
• An early iteration of this proposal indicated that employees redefined as part time would not continue to receive sick time benefits. Sodexo is now indicating that a paid sick time benefit would be provided to affected employees.
A statement released by Sodexo to both institutions said: “We will work with Vermont State Colleges and the University of Vermont on this ongoing process and will continue to support our employees to help them understand their options and prepare them to meet the requirements of the individual mandate of the ACA.”