Student employees work hard during the lunch rush in Ram’s Den. Photo by Anna Meassick
Last semester, student employees at the University of Rhode Island voiced concerns about the lack of wage disparity between different levels of student employment.
The University of Rhode Island has eight different pay levels for student employees, based on experience and skill. Entry-level student employees fall within the first four levels. There is a 50 cent difference between the lowest and highest pay level, which is the wage disparity students are concerned about.
Although “low to moderately skilled” employees are represented by the first four different pay levels, they are paid at the same rate: $10.50 in hourly wage. Students are disgruntled by the fact that employees three levels below them receive the same compensation. The distinction with categories between pay five through eight is small as well.
Ryan Menard, a Student Senator and the chair of the Student Pay Committee, said, “If you are a manager and only making 50 cents more [per hour], there is really no incentive.”
Levels four to eight, described on the University of Rhode Island enrollment services page, are intended to compensate students who have additional experience or skills. Unlike levels one to four, these levels have some additional differentiation in pay rates. Level five employees are paid $10.60 per hour, level six $10.70, level seven $10.80 and the highest level employees, level eight, $11. Although there is an increase between each level in four to eight, it is minor, which causes frustration among student employees.
There is a reason for the lack of substantial disparity between skill levels. With minimum wage at $10.50 and the pay cap at $11, there is only 50 cents to work with between the various levels. This narrow pay range is the source of the problem because it prevents distinction between pay rates and skill levels. According to Menard, the expected minimum wage increase could increase pressure on URI to raise the current $11 pay cap.
Enrollment services Director, Carnell Jones, spoke about his department’s role in this issue, saying that their job is to make sure each worker is paid no less than $10.50. He said, “We just make sure that you get paid minimum [wage].”
Each department has pay rate level guidelines, but specific departments can pay employees more. For instance, some student employees in the IT Department earn $14 per hour because the skill set is higher.
The Student Senate is working with enrollment services to address these concerns.
“The senate represents the students, and the students complained,” Menard said.
Menard said they are hopeful they can reach a compromise about student-employee pay levels.
“We are hopefully going to try to propose a solution to it and say, ‘Okay if you do minimum wage and an X amount [then we can resolve the issue],’” Menard said.
One possible solution to the problem is raising the hourly wage cap, which would allow greater wage distinctions by level. However, this solution brings its own set of challenges. With increased expenditures, departments overextend their budgets. This outcome could force departments to cut student jobs. The University of Rhode Island College of Business recently had to cut student jobs due to a budget strain.
The Student Senate Pay Committee plans to meet with enrollment services as early as this Friday, Feb. 22 to work towards a solution on the issue.