Facilities Insider: FM Survey and Projects

The Facilities Insider was held on Aug. 20. Mary Ann Berzins, assistant vice president of Human Resources, presented the macro level results of the employee survey.

The survey was focused on 25 functional groupings and received a completion percentage of 68.7 percent. This survey sets a benchmark as it is the first employee survey in Facilities Management history. Most employees reported feeling that things work well within Facilities and support from colleagues was noted as a highlight. A total of 73.2 percent would describe morale as fair or higher, and 26.8 percent would describe it as low. Most employees believe there is good collaboration within groups and many appreciate the scheduling and variety of work.

Areas for improvement include the need for a career track, administrative resourses and recognition. Opportunities for growth and advancement were identified as leadership styles, inconsistent policy application, communication, resources and pay.

Now that Facilities Management has a general sense of the results, next steps will be management and supervisor-level meetings to review results and themes of comments. Once those meetings have taken place, more specific action plans that respond to the results will be developed. HR will work with groups on action plans, as well as help administration leadership on management style and culture. To be continued!

Mike stated that he hears the concerns regarding pay. He commented we’ve made strides in recent years, but he’s aware we have room for improvement. He will continue to advocate for us.

John McNary also provided an update on university projects.

 Projects completed end of 2013: Thatcher, Skaggs Pharmacy, Business school phase 2, parking access, Sorenson Arts & Education, infrastructure, women’s softball field.

Next up: Basketball facility, Central and Business loop parking garage.

Seeking approval: Crocker Science addition, Lassonde living learning center, Alumni house, infrastructure projects.

Mike stated that he hears the concerns regarding pay. He commented we’ve made strides in recent years, but he’s aware we have room for improvement.

Summer Changes in Facilities

Facilities Management rose to the statewide Clear the Air Challenge and wildly surpassed all other teams competing to save trips and make travelwise choices in the month of July. Together we eliminated 7,515 trips, for a total of 62,792 miles. Under the leadership of Mike Perez, also known as Mike on a Bike, 130 employees representing all departments of FM worked together to reach this goal.

Motor Pool will now be known as Fleet Services. The name change better reflects the charge of this department to manage and provide access to a diverse selection of vehicles and services. Fleet Services oversees fuel for government vehicles, monthly leases, and repair and maintenance for university/government owned vehicles.

Earlier this summer, the Plumbing Shop changed campus locations from its previous location in VRTUSB 350 to Building 215 on Guardsman Way. This needed change provides a more spacious environment for the Plumbing Shop while creating more space for the Carpenter Shops, which will remain in their previous location. The Plumbing Shop services buildings on main campus, Fort Douglas, and in Research Park. Among other duties, they are responsible for water mains, sewer mains, storm drains, gas mains, and secondary water lines on campus. They manage and maintain hot and cold water lines, drinking water reservoirs and campus swimming pools. Stop by and visit them in their new space.

Campus Utility Systems (CUS) in Facility Operations also experienced a number of changes. Kelly Gibbons, Adam Rohde, Rick Deming, Scott Hartwig and Kevin Thomas are all now part of the Engineering Group in CUS. To better meet the growing HVAC needs on campus, Heating/Ventilation and Refrigeration will now be two shops, still both housed in the same location. John Atkins will supervise the First Responders and Facility Coordinators and a new Maintenance Manager position was created to lead the trade shops in CUS as a part of this change.

At the end of July, FM took on four employees from the UCard office. Three of those individuals will join Facility Operations, see new additions, and one, Mike Thurman, will join Chad Thurman in Business Services IT. We welcome all of four of these individuals to FM and look forward to another productive year.

Facilities Management rose to the statewide Clear the Air Challenge and wildly surpassed all other teams competing to save trips and make travelwise choices in July.

Facilities Management Survey Contest Winner

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Facilities Management Employee Survey Contest!

The winner of this contest is:

Ryan Hillam

of

Construction Project Delivery

Ryan predicted that 398 Facilities Management employees would participate in this year’s employee survey and the actual number of participants was 397. 

Ryan will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Campus Store.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

FM - Employee Survey Contest

How many of the 554 employees do you think will take the FM-Employee Survey?  A huge thanks to all who have already completed the survey. Our goal is 500 and we know you can help us get there!

Too add a little fun, once you have completed your survey submit your guess of how many Facilities Management Employees will complete the survey to your division Secretary/Admin.

All guesses should be placed in the subject line for example – FM-Employee Survey Contest - 479

or

you can post your guess to the Facilities Operations Facebook page under the Employee Survey post  for a chance to win a $25.00 Campus Bookstore gift certificate!

All guesses must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24, 2013.

A winner will be announced Tuesday May 28.

Let your voice be heard. Complete your survey today!

Employee Survey Kickoff

 

1^st Annual Employee Survey Kickoff

Wednesday, May 15^th

Anytime between 11 am to 1 pm

Arbor Café, Building 350

Come and celebrate the 1^st Annual Facilities Management Employee Survey, have a refreshing treat and ask any questions you may have regarding the survey or the survey process. 

As a convenience, computers will be setup every day in the cafe area for employees to complete the survey from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. the May 15 – 22, 2013.

Help us reach our goal of 90% employee participation and let your voice be heard!