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VOLUME22, NUMBER?
FEBRUARY 14,1975
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
Inflation, Stock Market Force Management Action
University Freezes Hiring Temporarily
The university has ordered a freeze on
hiring throughout the campus,
including the medical center, and has
directed that administrators take
“maximum advantage of voluntary
resignations” between now/ and July 1.
"It is our intent," a letter from the
Allen Building stated, “to avoid, to the
greatest extent possible, outright
terminations and layoffs —”
The letter, dated Feb. 6, was sent to
deans, department heads and chairmen
from Chancellor John O. Blackburn,
Provost Frederic Cleaveland, Dr.
William G. Aniyan, vice president for
health affairs, and Charles B. Heustis,
vice president for business and finance.
Because of budget restrictions, a job
freeze was in effect at the medical
center during the first half of 1974, but
the present action is university-wide. It
is "effective immediately and until
further notice,” the letter said, and
“applies to new positions, any position
vacant, or any position that t)ecomes
vacant in the future.”
Any exception to the directive
requires prior approval by the
originators of the letter or their
designates.
The letter made reference to “the very
significant reduction” in endowment
income for the university and “the
effects of continuing inflation” on the
university’s operating costs.
"It is incumbent upon each person
with supervisory responsibility to find
equitable and appropriate means of
reducing both staff and nonacademic
personnel to a level that present and
projected finances can sustain,” the
letter said.
“A very strong effort is being made to
restrain costs in all other categories,
but the fact that salaries and wages
constitute the majority of our
expenditures makes it inevitable that
the amount of money spent for these
purposes must also be reduced.
"The severity of the changes that
must occur by July 1, 1975 can be
greatly alleviated if we take the
maximum advantage of voluntary
resignations taking place between now
and that date,” the letter continued.
“While it is highly unlikely that the
total reduction necessary can be
accomplished through attrition, it is our
intent to avoid, to the greatest extent
possible, outright terminations and
layoffs and this requires not only
utilizing the effects of attrition, but
careful attention to opportunities for
transfer between departments."
The officers said that "it is our
intention that the reduction in force and
the simultaneous reduction in services
that must be accomplished will be done
in a way that will give priority to the
quality of Duke's academic programs,
libraries, research and patient care."
Work Atmosphere, Patient
Relations Program Begins
IT WASNT MUCH SNOW, BUT IT WAS OUR SNOW— The white stuff fell on Durham
and Duke Hospital last week, and a lot of snow lovers were overjoyed. Mother
Nature decided to be stingy with the Piedmont, however, and most of the winter
whiteness had disappeared by noon on Tuesday. Since that time, temperature and
wind conditions have been balmy. (Photo by David Williamson)
A three-point program aimed at
improving patient relations and the
working atmosphere throughout Duke
Hospital has been inaugurated by a
special committee appointed by the
vice president for health affairs.
The program falls into these three
general categories:
An attempt to obtain a more
competitive pay scale for employees
engaged in direct patient care.
* An improved orientation program
for new employees, and management
development programs for people in
supervisory positions.
* Strict enforcement, beginning
today, of Employee Work Rules.
Over the past several weeks, Richard
Peck, administrative director of Duke
Hospital, has met with supervisory
personnel and others in administrative
positions to explain the committee's
function and objectives.
In addition to Peck, other members of
the committee appointed by Dr. William
G. Aniyan are Dr. Stuart Sessoms,
director of the hospital; Miss Wilma
Minniear, director of nursing services;
John Shytle, assistant vice president for
health affairs; and Richard L. Jackson,
assistant vice president for personnel.
In his meetings and in a letter to
supervisors, the administrative staff and
hospital department heads. Peck has
expanded on the committee's
three-point program.
Details on the differing wage scales
between patient-care personnel and
others at the university are being
developed, with an aim toward
implementation on or before July 1,
Peck said. Merit pay increases are part
of the consideration, he added.
A new employee orientation program,
he said, “will emphasize our tjeing here
for the purpose of patient care. New
employees must be given a considerate
and sensitized orientation.
Expectations regarding work
performance and personal tjehavior
should be explained as well as the
benefits and compensation they will
receive as employees of Duke
Hospital. '
Other projects, some of which already
have started, will include management
and supervisory development programs
in employee relations and cost
containment.
He also indicated that applicants will
be considered for employment only
after determining that the applicant has
"genuine desire and the sensitivity to
provide personal services to our
patients."
As of today, copies of Employee Work
Rules have been distributed to all
employees through their supervisors,
who are responsible, for seeing that all
personnel under them have received
copies. Some supervisors are requiring
that employees indicate in writing that
they have received the rules and
understand that they will be fully
enforced beginning today.
“It is expected, " Peck said, "that all
managers will enforce the work rules in
a fair and consistent manner.
Employees should be infornfied that
they will receive due process as
specified in the Personnel Policy on
disciplinary action related to Class I or
Class II infractions prior to dismissal in
the event they disregard the work
Dietetics Staff
Will Observe
Nutrition Week
Medical center dietitians will observe
National Nutrition Week with several
programs and projects throughout the
hospital and the Durham area.
The annual national observance, held
during the week of March 2-8, has as its
1975 theme, " Food Fads Fool."
According to research dietitian
Sharon O'Quinn, the dietetics staff will
sponsor special lectures as well as an
information booth in the cafeteria
during the week.
"We will be distributing information
on food and food fads in the outpatient
clinics," she said, “and there will be
information posted on the hospital
bulletin boards.” She also noted that
there will be an information booth at
Northgate Shopping Center open all
week and manned by Durham area
dietitians.