Custodial services for university buildings during the third shift, which takes place between 11 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., have moved from Plant Operations to an external partner. The change was effective Oct. 5.
Plant Operations made the decision to work with a partner, Aramark, to provide these services because of a high turnover rate of third shift employees coupled with difficulty identifying and hiring new staff. The high turnover rate resulted in coverage gaps that required employees working the shift to cover areas beyond their primary responsibilities.
“In recent years, it has been challenging to maintain staff on night shift. Partnering with Aramark will allow us to provide a high and consistent level of service during this shift without impacting our other employees or the community we serve,” Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain said.
Approximately 35 part- and full-time employees’ positions were eliminated. Plant Operations is working with affected employees who wish to be considered for custodial services openings on other shifts, and those individuals can also apply for other vacant Vanderbilt positions. Aramark will be working to fill the third-shift positions at Vanderbilt, and affected employees can apply for those as well.
The change does not affect custodial services at the Medical Center.
Nashville is home to Aramark’s North America Business Services Center, which began operations in November 2013 and currently employs more than 300 team members. Aramark employs 3,500 people in Tennessee at businesses, hospitals, stadiums and universities. Globally, it employs 270,000 people in 22 countries in a wide variety of sectors. Aramark has over 60 years of experience in the education sector and currently partners with more than 600 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada.