Haleigh G's Testimony

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"Coordinators need the protection of a 45-scholar caseload maximum not only because we value our time, but because we value the time we want to devote to the scholars."

Haleigh Guerin, Career Advancement Coordinator

In a 40-hour workweek, OMD employees should maintain the right to a lunch, allowing for the remaining amount of hours for work-related tasks. Assuming the caseload is made up of high-touch scholars and maintaining the basis of 20-minute meetings, with five minutes bordering each meeting to prepare and document, that would allow 65 scholar meetings each week.

However, this does not include the amount of research and thought that Career Advancement Coordinators (CACs) and Program Coordinators (PCs) put into each meeting. There is a plethora of scholar resources to help them succeed in their work, school, and personal lives. Finding these resources, ensuring scholar eligibility, and assisting scholars with any application processes takes time. These administrative tasks, including the work it takes to schedule and correspond with scholars, is often overlooked but highly necessary. If CACs and PCs were allowed 10 minutes for research for each scholar, OMD could provide critical supports to 48 scholars each week.

Scholar needs aside, final considerations include the company obligations to attend staff meetings, trainings, prepare for SDS, etc. Allowing half a day (4 hours) each week to meet these requirements removes six slots for scholar meetings, meaning OMD could provide critical support to 42 scholars each week.

There simply is not enough time in the day to meet with and serve a caseload of 65 scholars. CACs and PCs are barely making ends meet as it is, and as shown above, even a caseload of 45 scholars would account for every available minute. CACs and PCs need the protection of a 45-scholar caseload maximum not only because we value our time, but because we value the time we want to devote to the scholars.

Please consider signing our petition to support UWOMD's campaign for a fair contract and caseload: bit.ly/UWOMDcaseloadcap

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