While many people had to work from home during the pandemic, some employees stayed in the office. Now, one university has acknowledged its incredible workers and granted each a $1,500 bonus for working through COVID-19.
One-Time University Bonus
In March 2022, employees of Vanderbilt University were recognized for their outstanding work during the pandemic. After two years of dealing with COVID-19, they received a financial bonus of $1,500! The eligible workers make up around 9,000 members, including some part-time employees. So, who’s eligible? The official statement reveals that regular, full-time, and part-time staff with 90 days or more of service as of March 31, 2022 can get some bonus money. Also, “regular, full-time and full status, partial load (FSPL) faculty with appointments of one academic year or longer,” the Vanderbilt website reads. In addition, regular, full-time postdoctoral researchers with appointments of one academic year or longer already got their $1,500 prior to April 2022.
That’s a huge move for employees, especially in the education field, which is an essential one, just like medical or restaurant workers. Yet, we’ve already seen fast-food employees who were presented with nothing but a special pin thanking them for their service during the pandemic.
Financial Relief
Apart from the university giving out the $1,500 bonuses, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier gave a speech to the workers. “It has not been easy, especially during the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” he said during the Chancellor’s Recognition Award on March 17, a date that also marked the anniversary of the university, which was founded over 148 years ago!
Continuing his speech, Diermeier thanked the employees for keeping the university afloat. “However, your dedication to our vision and goals enables our university to operate at its highest level,” he said. “I am indeed grateful as we approach Vanderbilt’s 150th anniversary in a position of strength and with optimism about our path forward.”
Things have certainly been amazing for Vanderbilt University. Last autumn, over 7,000 undergrads and 6,400 graduate students enrolled in the Nashville, Tennessee university. However, it’s not the first college to express financial gratitude towards its workers during the coronavirus pandemic. For example, the University of Texas at El Paso gave its employees $1,200 bonuses. While it was just a one-time payment for a limited number of people and didn’t include some professors and part-time employees, the sum still brought relief to many individuals. President Heather Wilson sent out the bonuses by February 15. “Not only have you continued to teach and advance knowledge, but people worked exceptionally hard to ensure that all students were advised and registered for classes this semester, including a significant number of students who had paused their educations during the pandemic,” Wilson wrote.
University of Michigan employees got their share too. Workers from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses received $1,500. “You have worked tirelessly both in person and remotely to assure the ongoing success of our university and its students,” President Mark Schlissel wrote in an email to Ann Arbor campus staff. Furthermore, Michigan Medicine employees have already received a similar bonus.
Sources: Audacy, Detroit Free Press, Good News Network, The 74