While I understand that our slowing economy forces even UF to make difficult cutbacks, I do not understand why the leaders of our largest employer in Alachua County have to behave like any other arrogant, big-city CEOs when considering the fates of employees. I am particularly upset about the recent treatment of the staff of WRUF.
WRUF offers UF students the opportunity to work in a real-world business and creative environment while they study. While no one is above being considered for cutbacks, WRUF is a strange place to begin looking because it funds itself through revenue generated by commercials, unlike many other branches of UF.
Nonetheless, the UF employees who maintain these operations have been told they will soon learn who among them is losing his or her job, as WRUF has been targeted for layoffs.
While layoffs at WRUF are upsetting, that is not what moved me to write this letter.
What is truly upsetting is the fact that these employees will learn their fates from a group earning combined salaries of at least $200,000. Also, this expense is being held against WRUF.
Why does UF have hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend freely on consultants, but it cannot shield the jobs of 15-plus-year employees from this economic downturn?
