Do you recognize the new cashier at Nagel or barista at Jazzman’s?
Sodexo, the food services company that manages dining facilities across campus, is hiring students to work in almost every dining location, from the Sidelines Pub to the Olin cart.
According to Ira Simon, Resident District Manager since Sept. 2011, Denver Dining by Sodexo has hired about 70 students this quarter, averaging about 700 part time hours per week, giving students a new opportunity to work on campus.
“Working through the registrar’s office, we sent out a job opportunity brochure to every first, second, third and fourth year student at DU,” said Simon.
According to Simon, a part-time position with Sodexo is a practical win-win-win opportunity for all.
“We get bright, motivated employees able to assist during peak hour shifts and we provide students with a chance to work in a location convenient to where they live on a flexible schedule. Meanwhile, regular employees will get the support that they need during peak times, and customers will get higher quality service because of it,” said Simon.
Emma Biesiada, a first-year student from Lyons majoring in business started working as a cashier at Jazzman’s Café, Nagel Hall Market and the Korbel School Cyber Café in Cherington Hall during the week after Discoveries Orientation.
“It’s not labor-intensive, but not as easy as working at a desk. Time passes pretty fast, too, so it makes working kind of fun,” said Biesiada.
Sodexo is also offering on the spot training for student employees by current Sodexo staff members.
“[The Sodexo staff] are all really nice and willing to help show me what I don’t know,” said Biesiada.
Skye Savage, a second-year Russian major from Ramona, Calif., works as a cashier at the J-Mac general store on the weekends.
“They pay pretty well considering the hours are very flexible and we don’t need any previous experience,” said Savage.
As far as wages, Sodexo set the minimum wage to $9.22, raising it from the advertised $8.50 an hour. Colorado minimum wage is $7.64 an hour. Simon claims that the underestimation was a personal mistake.
“The last campus that I worked at had a student wage and an employee wage, but here I realized that we need to start them at the same wage as any other part time employee. We post jobs as if anyone can apply for them, not just students, so the wage had to be the same as if any community member applied,” said Simon.
Simon emphasized, however, that Sodexo will be sensitive to students’ needs.
“They are still students first and they should have the opportunity to do well in school and enjoy the activities offered at DU, but it’s imperative that they commit to the hours they take and show up even during finals and midterms,” said Simon.
Biesiada and Simon noted that the part-time employment was beneficial for both the employees and the customers.
“I worked at a campus with 600 student employees and can say that there’s a certain positive environment when customers are also employees. By hiring people who have eaten in our facilities, our employees become valuable resources for what we’re doing well and how to improve,” said Simon.
Biesiada commented on the advantages of meeting new people while working for Sodexo.
“It’s cool to actually see the diversity of our campus just by helping people who pass through,” said Biesiada.
Regarding concerns from two years ago about poor treatment of workers, Simon states new Sodexo initiatives address these issues.
“We have annual twice a year Employee Appreciation and Recognition events in June and November that are very successful. We’re working with employees on a one-on-one basis to make sure they know their work is important and we’ll treat students the same,” said Simon.
Visit the Sodexo student employment page for an application.
