COLUMBIA — On Jan. 18, UM System President Gary Forsee sent an e-mail to employees regarding their compensation and benefits. For the first time in at least 10 years, the university will conduct a confidential online survey for faculty and staff to determine what they value about their current benefits package.
“The Pay and Benefits Preference Survey” will take place at the end of January. It is expected to gauge what benefits system employees are willing to change or possibly give up.
Betsy Rodriguez, vice president of human resources, said the survey is not intended to make budget cuts. “It’s just about making sure we’re spending our money in a way employees value,” she said in a Columbia Daily Tribune article.
The survey will analyze different pay combinations and allow for employees to provide input on a variety of benefits.
Do you think the online survey is a signal to system employees that salary cuts may soon be coming? Is there a better way to gather opinions about the current pay and benefits package of university faculty and staff?