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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does the pay at ASUCLA stack up to other comparable jobs?
2. Are there opportunities for student pay increase and promotions?
3. What about other benefits?
4. What role do student employees have at ASUCLA?
5. Where does the money spent at ASUCLA facilities go?
6. I’ve heard that employee turnover at ASUCLA is high. Is that true?
7. How can ASUCLA student employees voice their workplace concerns?
Answers
1. How does the pay at ASUCLA stack up to other comparable jobs?
ASUCLA pays competitive wages that allow us to fill our 1200 student positions each year.
Our starting rates vary by position with many Store and some Food positions starting currently at $8.75/hour and our overall average student rate is $9.32/hour. The majority of Food Service Shifts, however, start at $9.25/hour and the average rate for student employees in ASUCLA Food Services is $9.37/hour. The Board of Directors raised hourly student wages by $1.25 in the past two years.
2. Are there opportunities for student pay increase and promotions?
Approximately 40% of all student employees at any time have been promoted into Supervisor, Senior Student Supervisor, Management Assistant or Specialist positions. Wages for these positions vary but most supervisors start at $9.25/hour. except in Food Service operational positions which receive $10.00/hour. Senior Student Supervisors/Management Assistants positions start at $10.50/hour in the Store and $10.50/hour in Food Service.
3. What about other benefits?
In 2008-2009, student employees worked an average of approximately 10 hrs/wk, and they have different responsibilities from full-time, career employees, who work 40 hrs/wk. At ASUCLA, if a student employee works more than 50% of the work hours in a month, they earn sick leave. If they work 20 hrs/wk for six consecutive months, they earn vacation time. Also, Student Employees receive Worker's Compensation coverage. All Student employees receive a 20% discount on selected Store items. In addition, Food Service Student Employees receive a meal allowance worth up to 50% of the cost of the meal up to a retail value of $5.00 when they work at least 2 hours.
4. What role do student employees have at ASUCLA?
Students started ASUCLA back in 1919, and we have remained a student-run organization since. While many universities have outsourced most of their food service operations, this is not the case at UCLA or ASUCLA. ASUCLA self-operates many of its facilities in order to provide as many opportunities as possible for on-campus student employment. Through our Student Development Program, student employees move into supervisor positions and learn valuable management skills. Quite a few employees even stay on after graduation and become full-time managers. Of the approximately 130 ASUCLA career managers, 25% are former student employees.
5. Where does the money spent at ASUCLA facilities go?
ASUCLA is a self supporting non-profit organization which does not receive direct state funding, and one of our mottos is “it all comes back to you.” When you spend money at an ASUCLA facility, whether on a textbook or a hamburger, this money goes back to the students and campus. For example, it is used to operate the various Student Union facilities at UCLA, to support student programming, and to open new facilities like Jamba Juice, the Greenhouse and soon the new Cooperage. We also lowered textbook prices by $250,000 this year and developed our ASUCLA Benefits U program both aimed at lowering costs for students.
6. I’ve heard that employee turnover at ASUCLA is high. Is that true?
In 2008-2009, only 16 student employees left ASUCLA involuntarily. Of course, many student employees do choose to leave ASUCLA employment each year, often due to changes in their academic and personal schedules or financial situations. ASUCLA’s turnover for student employees in 2008-2009 is consistent with the turnover rate for similar jobs nationwide. In addition, many of our student employees leave for a quarter to focus on school and then are welcomed back at a future date. This is one of the advantages of student employment which is not available to career staff.
7. How can ASUCLA student employees voice their workplace concerns?
Our core operating philosophy is based on the input of our student employees. Additionally, student supervisors are involved in many management decisions, such as scheduling, mentoring, promotions and operational oversight. We try to address concerns informally at the unit level but if issues do arise, our Student Employment Policies include a formal grievance process, which addresses suspensions, demotions, pay issues, dismissals and written performance warnings for student employees who have worked at least one year. The ASUCLA Board of Directors also encourages UCLA students to bring forward larger policy concerns. Our thirteen-member Board includes eight students who have authority over ASUCLA’s operations, including strategic planning, budgeting, capital investment and organizational philosophy.
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