[R i]

I dont have a dog in the fight. I think the underpayed LU employees are well represented in this thread. I would just like to say that leaving for a better paying job that you feel more respected doesnt only happen at LU. Its an epidemic called a career. Look at the stats of people that stay with one company their entire working career. They are dramatically changing.
The jobs are being filled by decent to good people, when they leave there are several other decent to good people willing to take their place, bc its LU. I sit through quarterly calls and listen to crazy numbers and shareholder wealth increasing and profit, and revenue, blahzay blahzay.. and I dont feel compensated for the time and effort I put in to help make that happen. Its the nature of the beast. I feel that simply saying because its Christian, working conditions and compensation should be better is a little far fetched. Like I said, I dont have first hand experience with LU staffers, and I dont wanna step on the toes of those that are.

Also the comment about having a hard time spending money was a definate misstep.

[jcmanson]

I would just like to say that leaving for a better paying job that you feel more respected doesnt only happen at LU. Its an epidemic called a career. Look at the stats of people that stay with one company their entire working career. They are dramatically changing

Excellent points

[LUconn]

I guess you can't really tell in the context of that article but I would guess he was joking. A little hyperbole to show you how much money they're making. But hearing the folks here and knowing the reputation of employees salaries, he probably shouldn't have said that. I've never worked for LU and I would l really love to but I also have a family to provide for.

[El Scorcho]

I would just like to say that leaving for a better paying job that you feel more respected doesnt only happen at LU. Its an epidemic called a career.

I'm going to partially disagree. Leaving for better pay and opportunity? That's a career move. Respect, though? I have to disagree. I think you should be treated well and respected regardless of what point you're at in your career. I'm sure a lot of people do leave their jobs because they feel less than appreciated, but I don't think that's part of moving up in a career.

Again, I want to repeat that I also don't have a dog in this fight. I've moved on and I'm happy. I'm actually at a similarly large private university in the very same role I was in at Liberty. Compensation aside, the differences in working here versus there are night and day. I think that's what keeps me thinking about it from time to time. I now know that it can be a lot better than it is, and I think it should be.

[adam42381]

http://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtop ... 61#p354161

[jcmanson]

Isn't better pay very closely related to respect?

[R i]

You are very right, being treated with respect and making you feel appreciated, compensation aside, should be better at Liberty than a large company in the financial industry.

Honestly though, how appreciated is one gonna feel , and how much respect is one gonna feel has been given if its not backed with dollar bills in their pocket. I obviously dont realize the scope of the problem if its deeper than just getting paid more.

[adam42381]

Honestly though, how appreciated is one gonna feel , and how respected is one gonna feel has been given if its not backed with dollar bills in their pocket. I obviously dont realize the scope of the problem if its deeper than just getting paid more.

Based on the comments in this thread from El Scorcho and others, it's clearly not just the pay that shows a lack of respect.

[BJWilliams]

Its a fine line I think as far as money goes. You dont want to put too much in making sure people are paid well, but do it at the behest of the necessary infrastructure and facilities. How would you feel if you were paid $60,000/year, and you worked in what amounted to a broom closet and you barely had the equipment to do your job on a marginal level? Going the other direction (and this is where I think a lot of people are coming from, including Scorcho), if you have the best facilities in the world, you dont want to have all your people barely making enough to put food on the table for themselves, much less their families (if they have any). As I said, the focus from what I can tell is on infrastructure and once this round of major campus transformation is finished, I venture youll see attention turned to making sure that the people who are populate these facilities will be compensated accordingly. As for the respect issue, dealing with that is delving into an issue that I honestly dont feel I can comment on at this point.

[thepostman]

We have more money then we know how to spend BJ. I don't think if they gave raises and competed NATIONALLY instead of regionally would cut into our funds to get the equipment needed to do the job and do it well.

I realize you are the ultimate LU apologist, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with stating that in order for Liberty to truly reach the next level we need to be competing NATIONALLY salary wise. We are not a regional school, and we have stated that in athletics, what doesn't it trickle down to the other areas of this school?

Liberty has come a long way, but it still has a long ways to go to become a truly world class University. Saying things like, "we have more money then we can spend" does not help that fact. It is great that we have solidified our financial situation but lets do something positive with that and treat the people with the respect they deserve and at the same time help bring in the BEST people we can to truly be a world class university.

I truly believe it will come, but things need to start changing soon because the longer it isn't made a priority the harder it gets down the line.

[BJWilliams]

I wasnt saying that we were doing that postie, Im just saying that it can be a balancing act. I just as much as anybody (ESPECIALLY now in the position I am in) want to see LU competing nationally compensationwise (as well as in facilities and academics), but as with anything, it needs to be done right. Done yes...but done right.

[Purple Haize]

Wow. Who knew I would start such a fire storm.

[JLFJR]

BJ always e mails me when he sees a thread that he thinks I should read so he e mailed me last night about this one. I finally got a chance to read all the comments late today.

First, my quote about Liberty not being able to spend the money fast enough was in reference to the fact that Liberty is a non-profit and must re-invest all surplus funds in university programs and facilities v. paying it out to investors as profit. I was saying that we had grown so fast, there was no way we could spend the money fast enough, i.e., it is impossible to start that many new programs or build that many buildings as fast as the money is coming in plus the prudent thing is to put away a substantial portion of the surplus for future generations at Liberty that may need it. If you read the entire article instead of that quote alone, I think the reporter made it clear what I was saying.

Secondly, I know that the majority of frequent posters on FF are not recent grads, current students or current employees and can only comment intelligently about what used to be at Liberty. That is a significant disadvantage for a school that is changing so fast. But, I agree that nurturing the best possible employee experience was not a priority at Liberty when finances were tough. Frankly, that was a luxury that had to take a backseat to survival in those days. Now, that things have turned around for Liberty, the school's inability to devote attention and resources to employee relations is going the way of the dorm circle and the Schilling Center. But, it takes time. We do have new programs in place to show our appreciation to employees. The You Matter campaign is the most visible. It is not going change the culture that existed at Liberty for decades but it is a step in the right direction.

We also have full-time staff now whose only responsibility is to constantly compare the pay of Liberty employees to the pay of employees in comparable jobs at comparable institutions. For some positions, it is appropriate to compare pay to what others in Lynchburg are making. For other positions, it is not. All of those factors are being taken into consideration and pay is being adjusted department by department as the studies are completed. This started over a year ago. Millions of dollars in pay adjustments have been made just this summer. Liberty already has better benefits (health ins, DGIA, and 403(b), e.g.) than many comparable employers we are learning but some of those benefits are limited to employees who wish to continue their education. We are therefore looking for ways to provide comparable benefits to non-student employees.

But, adjusting pay alone is only part of changing the culture. The day is fast approaching that Liberty will not have one employee who is not being paid the full market value for his or her services. Once that goal is reached, we still have a lot of work to do but we are determined that Liberty will always be a place where every employee knows how valuable they are and a place that is an excellent career choice with numerous opportunities for advancement and the kind of work environment that is fitting for the world's largest Christian university.

And just as a side note, as a non-profit, it is technically illegal for Liberty to pay anyone more than the market value of their services. The IRS calls that private inurement and, when they find private inurement, it is grounds for revocation of an organization's tax exempt status. So, it really wouldn't matter if Liberty had no money, $1 billion or $100 billion in the bank. The law says we can't pay anyone more than what it would cost to replace them with someone of equal talents, abilities and experience. I know that law leaves plenty of room to argue about what somebody is worth but, at the end of the day, anyone of us is replaceable from the janitor to the head football coach to the chancellor and the law says Liberty can only pay each of us roughly what the next equally qualified person in line for our job would cost the school. If we were a for-profit institution, that would not be a legal requirement.

[thepostman]

Thanks for the long, detailed response. I do respect and appreciate getting your point of view on these kinds of issues. It is a lot to take in all at once and I am sure I will have more to add at a later time, but I wanted to make sure I commented now to just thank you for coming on here and addressing tough issues on a regular basis.

I may not always agree with things, but I respect that you are as open as you are with us on this message board. You could very easily ignore it.

I will end with this, how is BJ not set as spam on your e-mail account!!???

I kid of course!!

[JLFJR]

Thank you, postman. You are very kind.

[JK37]

Isn't better pay very closely related to respect?

No. It can be a small part of it. But if leadership gives no other reason or purpose, and underlings are forced to grasp at the straw of compensation to try to find some reason for doing what they do, the relationship dissipates quickly. Liberty is full of people who want to want to work where they work (no, not a typo). The treatment of people as expendable assets ("If you want to, just leave; we'll find someone else, maybe even for less!") seems to be the issue being discussed.

I strongly encourage reading the book Lead...for GOD'S Sake! Very, very easy read.

[R i]

But, adjusting pay alone is only part of changing the culture. The day is fast approaching that Liberty will not have one employee who is not being paid the full market value for his or her services. Once that goal is reached, we still have a lot of work to do but we are determined that Liberty will always be a place where every employee knows how valuable they are ...

Realizing there needs to be a change in culture coming from the top is a good place to start. Increasing pay to full market value being the first item to be addressed would make me feel apprecaiated.

What is the fair market value of a Chancelor that has huge shoes to fill at a young Christian university? Whatever it is, it just went up a little, Nice work Mr. Falwell.

[Purple Haize]

Isn't better pay very closely related to respect?

No. It can be a small part of it. But if leadership gives no other reason or purpose, and underlings are forced to grasp at the straw of compensation to try to find some reason for doing what they do, the relationship dissipates quickly. Liberty is full of people who want to want to work where they work (no, not a typo). The treatment of people as expendable assets ("If you want to, just leave; we'll find someone else, maybe even for less!") seems to be the issue being discussed.

I strongly encourage reading the book Lead...for GOD'S Sake! Very, very easy read.

Are there a lot of pictures because with this group........

IMO, that will be the most biggest and most bestest change that can be made at Liberty. (no its not a typo, it Cider English) It will also be the most difficult.

[BJWilliams]

I think that is partly noted when the chancellor said...

The You Matter campaign is the most visible. It is not going change the culture that existed at Liberty for decades but it is a step in the right direction.

[Purple Haize]

I think that is partly noted when the chancellor said...

The You Matter campaign is the most visible. It is not going change the culture that existed at Liberty for decades but it is a step in the right direction.

Yes. And........

[BJWilliams]

The chancellor is well aware that its going to take time for the attitude to change and people to be less seen as "expendable". Like I said some posts ago, Rome wasnt built in a day (as the old cliche says)

[EagleOne]

you will have bosses who will pass over someone who is significantly more qualified for a promotion because somebody else decided to go out and play 18 holes with the VP and use most of that time "brown nosing".

So BJ, what's your handicap?

[Purple Haize]

you will have bosses who will pass over someone who is significantly more qualified for a promotion because somebody else decided to go out and play 18 holes with the VP and use most of that time "brown nosing".

So BJ, what's your handicap?

I don't think we are allowed to use the word 'handicapped' anymore

[BJWilliams]

EagleOne, I don't play golf...

[rogers3]

BJ- have you ever considered changing the "T" in your avatar to an "F"?