Pros
Working with my peers and taking care of students.
Cons
In student support services, we were assured that we wouldn't have to return to the office, and this arrangement was permanent. This was announced in one of our Service Line Town Halls by our VP and upper management. Due to this we started to hire candidates from other states to assist in case of technical issues or natural disasters in Utah or Arizona to ensure students were all cared for.
Several of us made significant life changes based on this information, such as selling our second cars, planning to start families, and moving farther away from the campus because the housing was cheaper. Working from home allowed us to save money to handle the inflation. Additionally, we were informed that our department's productivity was high while working remotely, and this is why upper management decided to keep us remote.
As student support services, we bear the burden of handling financial aid and enrollment inquiries. We are puzzled as to why they are allowed to work from home while we handle a large portion of their calls.
Now, many of us who live hours away from the campus are concerned about the need to commute for extended hours, without any limit on mileage. This change will bring financial strain and additional responsibilities, such as finding childcare and care for members is our family that are unable to care for themselves.
We were previously able to work from home without needing FMLA or accommodations, but now, we are forced to navigate these processes to ensure we have the necessary accommodations in place when we return.
I am not alone in feeling disappointed and frustrated by the lack of information regarding the abrupt return to the office. Additionally, concerns about safety when working late, as well as the need to align our support service hours with other departments and avoid working on weekends and holidays, should be addressed. We're an integral part of the University, and since other departments have set hours and Meazure Learning now handles proctoring, we believe it's fair to be closed on holidays and not work weekends. Additionally, aligning our hours with the records and financial services department would greatly benefit us.
It’s crucial for all of us to take into account these factors in our work logistics. I'm aware that many people are getting ready to leave WGU because of this announcement, and our department can't afford a major loss in staff. It takes 3-4 months to fully train new people.
I hope Scott and other managenent takes this all into consideration.
