At a time of low morale among Ohio University employees, an executive decision made over the heads of faculty and staff has those workers worried for the future, the chairman of Classified Senate said.
University employees received an e-mail Sept. 2 from the human resources department announcing a change in the business hours for summer and winter breaks, to begin this winter.
In response, some classified employees sent university President Roderick McDavis a letter questioning why affected employees were not given the chance to review the change, which is required by OU policy.
OU's Preparation of Policy and Procedures
approved April 2002, states that new or revised policy and procedure drafts be circulated to all interested parties, both individuals and groups, for review and comments both during the policy's development and during the formal review.
It was not the schedule change that upset classified workers, but more that it was enacted without any oversight by employees, which policy explicitly requires, said Wendy Kaas, chair of the Classified Senate.
No one reviewed it Kaas said. It just came down to my knowledge.
The 25-member Classified Senate represents about 630 non-bargaining employees, which includes clerical, technical and information technology positions, Kaas said.
Beyond the president and his cabinet -which initiated the changes -no one had oversight, said Jim Kemper, assistant vice president for human resources.
They did not follow a policy in approving that change because it is in a lull right now, Kemper said.
I am uncertain as to what is guiding policy change right now
Kemper said.
Kemper explained the lull as a transition period as Vision Ohio, a comprehensive plan for the university's future, is developed and implemented. Vision Ohio will change these policy procedures, but the changes have not yet been decided, Kemper said.
Because that policy change was enacted without their consideration, Kaas said, classified employees are afraid their opinion is losing value. Kaas wrote a separate, similar letter to the president and various administrative offices addressing her concerns following the Sept. 2 e-mail.
You kind of feel like there's no respect for your position when no one's listening to you
Kaas said.
After talking to members of Faculty Senate and Administrative Senate, Kaas said she gathered that the schedule change was made available to none of the 14 groups supposed to review it, under current policy.
There should be some kind of dialogue and communication (with) the senates when any change is being made
Kaas said. We have prided ourselves in OU having a shared governance.
The Human Resources office issued the e-mail about the change and Kemper said he understands now the complaints of Classified Senate.
In my role as their liaison
I am keenly aware of their concerns and together we're trying to work through these issues
Kemper said.
The change was intended to improve customer service by shifting business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays instead of the original schedule of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The change raises questions for classified employees -details such as the number of employees required to be in offices during those times, Kaas said. She hopes those details are explained, along with a reaction to Classified Senate's concerns, she said.
An official response has not been received from the administration, Kaas said.
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