First Friday with the Vice President

At least once each month, a small group of between 10 and 12 nonexempt staff meet with the vice president for business operations to share personal stories and professional perspectives. The First Friday Breakfast program, as it is known, affords staff an opportunity to discuss subjects of interest with the vice president of the division in an informal setting.

The supervisor is typically not in attendance at these breakfasts, to encourage staff to speak freely, without the fear of reprisal. The program has been a resounding success, with breakfasts scheduled into the fall and numerous groups interested in spring dates. A number of the larger departments within the division, such as Facility Operations and Food Services, have created similar programs for the staff to interact on a social level with the directors.

Subjects at the First Friday Breakfasts range from the growth of campus to changes in benefit policies and vary according to the group in attendance. Items discussed over the course of the year have included the following topics: employees at top of pay range, software for use by staff for personal home computers, e-commuting for top performing staff, differences in retirement plans for staff, insurance increases to align with timing for salary increases, ND Voice Survey in multiple languages, deduction for football tickets from paychecks, use of accessible parking tags, potential smoking policy revisions and enforcement, and a goal for employee health assessments.