Radina’s on-campus baristas moved to off-campus locations, some laid off

0
1479
Students working at one of the four Radina's locations on campus had the opportunity to be transferred to a different location in Manhattan. Some students were laid off and returned to their home towns. (Sarah Millard | Sarah Millard)

Although Kansas State has ceased on-campus operations and continues on a limited operation status, university employees will “continue to get paid at regular rates during this emergency period.” This includes students with on-campus jobs.

Students working at Radina’s locations on campus aren’t so lucky. Zac Ralston, director of operations for on-campus locations, said some on-campus baristas were transferred to other Manhattan locations. However, some were laid off.

“The people we were able to maintain on staff have been moved to other stores,” Ralston said. “A majority of my staff are students across the board on campus, so more than anything those students chose to go back home.”

Radina’s is offering drive thru and pick-up services at this time.

However, some entities directly associated with the university still receive pay. Steve Anderson, retail services manager at the K-State Student Union, said the Union Kitchen and Chick-fil-A are following suit with this practice even though they are a separate LLC.

“We are paying our students. They are being paid an average of the hours they had worked from the start of the semester until the week [we] had to shut down,” Anderson said via email.

The Union is a licensee of Chick-fil-A. As such, those employees aren’t able to work at the Manhattan location.

Call Hall Dairy Bar located in both the Union and Call Hall are paying employees an average of their wages as well, John Kessler, manager, said via email.

“As many of these responses and actions concerning COVID-19 are still a moving target, we will adapt to any decisions as they come,” Kessler said.

There are a total of 15 employees at both Call Hall locations. In the past, they have employed as many as 25 students, but due to the dairy plant retrofit, there wasn’t a need for as many employees.

“As soon as this whole thing blows over it will be our pleasure to serve the people of K-State again,” Anderson said.

Advertisement
SHARE
My name is Bailey Britton and I am the former editor-in-chief of the Collegian. Previously, I have been the assistant news editor and the managing editor. I have also interned for the Manhattan Mercury and the Colby Free Press. I grew up in Colby, Kansas, and I am a junior in journalism and English. Through the Collegian, I aim to provide the K-State community with quality news coverage while we learn to serve our campus.