There are so many people that were loyal to the company. I was one of them. But over the years and little by little decisions being made caused me to rethink that loyalty. Now here I am 8 years later and my loyalty extends as far as my paycheck. I will keep giving what is necessary for my paycheck. Those who still think otherwise should rethink their priorities because Follett’s priority is not their employees.
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Great deal for the school (if follett doesn't stiff them like their vendors).
Not a great deal for the students (follett is stiffing their vendors?).
REALLY REALLY BAD FOR EACH AND EVERY ASSOCIATE EMPLOYEE THAT Follett is required to hire full-time Iowa Hawk Shop employees who choose to continue working with Follett at their current salaries (what about benefits????).
The state Board of Regents could care less about the employees as long a they get their vigorish (also known as the vig)
If they aren't paying their vendors how will they pay the university? Did the geniuses at the school check Folletts credit rating?
Follett will work you off the roster, I have not only seen it, I've been given instruction to implement it. Nothing written down, but verbally. Did I do it? No, but the expectation is there. If you're field, no one is untouchable.
Warning to the full time Iowa employees, Follett will fire by May 2022 which will be one year after the takeover. Some of you are buyers, and Follett stores don't have buyers. All buying is done at the HO so your positions will be eliminated. The rest of you will be terminated for "performance issues." I have seen this happen over and over again when they come in and hire the current staff. No one is untouchable. Your years of experience and knowledge of the University its faculty and staff mean nothing.
We're back! Unless you're one of the stores working with no labor dollars.
But YEAH for the University of Iowa!
The state Board of Regents approved the operating agreement between
the University of Iowa and Follett Higher Education Group,
which will take over operations of the
Iowa Hawk Shop’s online and retail sales.
Follett will begin operating the bookstore on April 22, 2021. The agreement will be in effect for the next five years, and was unanimously approved by the state Board of Regents on Friday.
“Since the 2008 flood when the bookstore was not able to operate in the Iowa Memorial Union for many years, and with the ever-increasing online competition for books and apparel, the university operated bookstore has financially struggled and has operated at a loss for many years – since 2015,” UI business manager David Kieft told the regents on Friday.
The company will pay the UI a percentage of all sales from the bookstore
as well as $250,000 annually for each term of the agreement,
and a $100,000 annual utility fee.
The company is also required to pay $50,000 each year to the UI Division of Student Life,
and *$10,000 annually to support the UI libraries. *
As part of the agreement, Follett is required
to hire all current full-time Iowa Hawk Shop employees who choose to continue working with Follett at their current salaries, Kieft said.
The university first issued a request seeking a public-private partnership to manage the Iowa Hawk Shop in September 2020.
*As previously reported by The Daily Iowan, the Iowa Hawk Shop employs
17 full-time employees and
110 part-time student employees.*