Jaqueline Flores, justice studies senior and Joe West mailroom employee, said she is prioritizing her family’s health and doesn’t want to put them at risk. But not coming into work means not getting a paycheck.
“It’s been rough because this job is my only source of income and it’s really frustrating that other employees are guaranteed paid time off but the mailroom staff is not,” Flores said in a SAMMY app message to the
Spartan Daily.
Although the majority of San Jose State campus employees are now telecommuting for work, essential staff continues to work on site to operate facilities, as of Monday.
“Our supervisor has told us that if we do not feel comfortable coming into work, then that is fine, but we will not be getting paid,” Flores said.
After Santa Clara County Public Health officials issued the shelter-in-place order to limit the spread of the coronavirus on
March 16, San Jose State administrators have been determining the fate of campus employees – namely, those who continue to get paid and those who don’t.
The Student Union Board of Directors, Sonja Daniels, vice president of campus life, and various university personnel met to approve paying student workers their weekly wages until May 31. Respective managers will decide if work needs to be completed at home through telecommunication.
However, this policy does not apply to all student workers on campus.
Forensic science sophomore Katrina Tom will not continue to earn a paycheck from the eatery because the establishment falls under the SpartanEats company, owned by Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services.
“It puts me in a situation because I have rent to pay and other bills,” Tom said in a SAMMY app message to the Spartan Daily. “They just tell us to file for unemployment.”
During March 8 - 14, California received 58,208 unemployment claims, 34% more than the week prior, according to the state’s Employment Development Department.
Filing a claim through the EDD’s website is done by logging onto the Benefit Programs Online and filling out the
necessary information.
University staff will continue to have their salary pay and benefit packages until June 30. Telecommuting work is expected of staff while at home.
Jobs that are classified under Associated Students will continue to get paid for their shifts even when not working, these include student assistants or interns.
One teaching assistant said it has been a challenge to multitask because of the shutdown.
“They’re managing the move online as teachers, plus they’re trying to keep on top of their own coursework and/or studying for exams, writing thesis and finishing independent studies,” Teaching Assistant Coordinator Ryan Skinnell stated in an email to the Spartan Daily.
He said that while these are not new roles for teaching assistants, their responsibilities have intensified.
Campus personnel are still expected to practice social distancing, whether they are telecommuting from home or on campus to work, according to a campuswide email sent by Joanne Wright, senior associate vice president of university personnel.
