The University cannot function without its Campus Services employees. Our on-campus experience is possible only because of their tireless commitment to cultivating a safe campus. Particularly during the pandemic, when sanitation and safety have taken on new urgency, they have gone above and beyond to ensure students reclaim some semblance of a college experience. They are the backbone of this University, yet the leaders of Campus Services treat them as subhuman and disposable.
Wheel Executive Editor Isaiah Poritz’s (22C) recent investigation into Campus Services exposed administrators’ abuse of their employees and perpetuation of a toxic work culture. The egregious racism, misogyny and injustice from which Emory’s most essential employees have suffered is beyond deplorable. As privileged students attending a prestigious institution, many of us may find overlooking that suffering all too easy. This must no longer be the case.
The testimonials in Poritz’s piece reveal an extremely degrading and unsafe workplace. Since the pandemic’s inception, supervisors have forced employees to work double shifts without overtime pay. Vice President of Campus Services Robin Morey, who assumed his role in March, refused to admit to that practice and refuted claims of a toxic workplace, even though 11 employee claims and myriad email correspondence prove otherwise. Like his predecessor, Matthew Early, Morey is not merely out of touch with his staff. He enables and preserves malpractice against the employees with whom the University has entrusted him.
Additionally, Campus Services workers are not required to receive COVID-19 tests. By refusing to mandate tests for its employees, Emory is risking the health of their employees, their employees’ families and others on campus. This is an abdication of responsibility for the health and wellness of the staff, students and Emory community at large. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are required to provide every worker with “employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” By not mandating testing, Emory is putting their employees at severe risk.
Last week, the Editorial Board called on Emory to require COVID-19 testing for its staff. Poritz’s reporting reaffirms the importance of mandatory testing for all staff. Not only must Emory require its staff to receive the same weekly screening as its students, but with the recent implementation of saliva tests, which can take up to 24 hours to receive a result, the University must also guarantee employees paid leave while they wait for their test results. Otherwise employees will face an inhumane choice between feeding their families and protecting their health.
Campus Services’ problematic employee treatment predates both Morey and COVID-19. Since at least the early 2010s, veteran Campus Services employees have faced worsening and blatant sexism, racism and disrespect in the workplace. According to many of the employees, Early’s management deserves much of the blame. The toxicity he engendered in the department harmed numerous employees psychologically, professionally and physically. Miguel Duenas, a former Facilities Management supervisor, noted the harassment he faced contributed to his deteriorating physical health. During a meeting in which managers reprimanded him for failing to meet unrealistic performance standards, he suffered a heart attack. These employees’ mental and physical health are greatly suffering, and we can’t ignore their plights any longer.
While Campus Services employees work tirelessly to keep the University running, their supervisors have failed to extend to them even the basic courtesy of kindness and fair treatment. A welcoming, professional environment is not a perk to be earned or an achievement deserving praise — it is the bare minimum. Campus Services seems unable to manage the simplest functions of workplace etiquette.
Changes to Campus Services must begin with leadership. University President Gregory L. Fenves and Vice President and Dean of Campus Life Enku Gelaye must immediately open an investigation into Campus Services, focusing on its management and these accusations of abuse and mistreatment. They should seriously consider dismissing Morey and other high-ranking members of the department who have downplayed and facilitated maltreatment.
Any investigation cannot, however, remain an insular enterprise. Emory has a record of excluding students, staff and faculty from decision-making processes that affect day-to-day life. Just this year, administrators neglected to include any voices but their own in discussions of the University’s fall 2020 and spring 2021 COVID-19 and reopening plans. It is high time for administrators to learn from those repeated mistakes. Any investigation into Campus Services must proceed with the utmost transparency, all allegations must be seriously investigated and any action taken on such an inquiry’s findings must include staff input.
Additionally, the University should determine the overtime worked by each employee in Campus Services since March and provide hazard pay. The baseness of Campus Services leadership’s demands that their employees spend extra time on the job with no additional compensation is clear. It’s time to pay up.
As for Campus Services itself, administrators must metamorphose workplace culture. Rather than filling leadership roles with outside hires, supervisors should promote from within. That requires providing employees with the training and opportunities needed to advance. More than the moral choice, this is also the pragmatic one. Motivated employees are more productive employees. Campus Services, by failing its staff, also fails itself and the Emory community to boot.
As Fenves wrote in a Nov. 24 email to the Emory Community, “frontline staff members reconfigured our campus, found creative new ways of making our facilities accessible and safer for everyone, all while facing the risks and uncertainty generated by the spread of COVID-19.” Given the Wheel’s investigation, it’s clear that this statement was nothing more than performative rhetoric to tout the University’s supposed benevolence. Fenves, his immediate subordinates and his predecessors are not blameless for the injustice levied by Campus Services; it has happened and continues to happen on their watch. The fault is theirs as well, and by failing thus far to affect positive change within Campus Services, they are complicit in its abuses.
Many students complain about the pandemic’s subversion of the classic college experience, but Campus Services employees have been responsible for our entire college experience. If you are an Emory student, spread the word about the problems they face and demand change. To the University, your actions thus far have been cruel and immoral. We’re embarrassed and horrified at how you operate. You should be too.
The above editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel’s Editorial Board. The Editorial Board is composed of Sahar Al-Gazzali, Brammhi Balarajan, Viviana Barreto, Rachel Broun, Kemal Budak, Jake Busch, Sara Khan, Demetrios Mammas, Meredith McKelvey, Sara Perez, Ben Thomas, Leah Woldai and Lynnea Zhang.
I was the Executive Assistant to the VP of Campus Services, Bob Hascall and Matthew Esrly and I can attest to the statements in this story. I had a wonderful relationship with Bob but that was not the case with Matthew. He was a difficult man and certainly not concerned about his front line personnel.
It saddens me that those employees are still suffering under the weight of oppressive leadership. I spoke to Matthew about his leadership style before my move to Candler and offered some suggestions on how to improve. He said he appreciated it but I knew he wasn’t sincere.
I hope the university will take action to provide true servant leadership within the organization. I will also share this with Karen Salisbury, we worked together with the VP and I’m sure she would have some first hand knowledge about the plight of the staff.
They deserve better.
My name is Miguel Duenas former supervisor for campus Services after all the ordeal that I lived during Matthew Early’s administration I went to Central HR to apply for a retirement I spoke to Mr George Thomas
He referred my situation to Mss Rita Calderon apparently to get a better comunicación because she is Latino like me, but my retirement was denied based on that I worked only 9 years and six months and I got sick Mss Calderon replied on a email that I was supposed to be active working for 10 years plus my age
To be considered at 75 I was 66 when all the nightmare
Took place still Mss Calderon suggestion was to apply for another job to accomplish the resting time t add to 10 years of service I did apply to a custodian worker position in Lawrenceville Jerkis location bud i was never contacted if my calculations are wrong I believe I was wrong but 66 years old plus 9-1/2 I will leave the adding results to someone in CS upper management
To figure it out
Thanks
MD
I wasn’t employed with Emory when a lot of these allegations took place, so I can’t speak on it. As a current employee of campus services, I can tell you that Campus Services is better than this article. Has anyone reached out to current staff members and current leadership to see if this alleged culture still exists? It would be interesting to hear what other people have to say that currently work here. As an employee, I hope I’m asked to share my experiences working in Campus Services because this is a great place to work. In my opinion, the right people are in place for the organization to progress forward.
Emory University
Emory used to be a great place to work. Everyone is afraid to come forward with the current abuse in Facilities Management. Hiring from the outside has almost ruined the culture and has killed morale. An investigation will find evidence of constant cries for help that have been ignored. There needs to be an investigation into all complaints from not so distant past to present. The recent new hires need reviewing as well. Why are highly talented and highly qualified employees being passed over to hire less qualified and incompetent individuals. These nepotism/friend hires cause issues because they are incompetent and feel threatened by the long-time competent and dedicated empl0yees.
As a longtime employee of CS, I agree Mr Early did not appreciate those of us on the front lines. Some good leaders have been moved out but there is a new leader in charge, Mr Forbes, who treats us like contractors who can all be replaced. Many employees have complained about Mr. Forbes to CS Human Resources and Emory Human Resources (EEO). Several of us employees complained about how Mr Forbes is a bully and treats us like a contractor to Ms Owens, Mr King and Mr Thomas George so they are aware of all of this. I think your first article was correct that Emory HR is ignoring this and there is a coverup.
My name is Frederick Blue, I worked at Facility management for 13 years as a Steam Plant Operator under Jody Dicarlo and Franklin Parker. What a horrible experience, at first under Joe it was not that bad. However after Joe left and Mr. Dicarlo became supervisor with Franklin Parker as his assistant ,the workplace became very toxic. Mr, Parker would come to work totally drunk , Mr. Dicarlo said nothing however after being employed at Emory for 13 years I was fired for allegedly being on the computer for an entire watch which was incorrect . I was on the computer no more than other steam plant employees and less than other especially Mr. Parker. Mr. Dicarlo knew this yet terminated me anyway. I was always aware of the good old boy system at Emory. I saw no one in which to address this issue and other issues without the threat of being terminated work . I saw good people fired and people with bad work ethics
protected and promoted. When I left Emory it felt as if a heavy stone was lifted from my chest, only then did I realize the stress that I had been under. At Emory you were not judged by your work ethics. I consider my decision to work at Emory one of the most terrible mistake that I made in my life. Anyone who asked me about working there, I would tell them do not waste your time. The supervisors and managers were horrible.