To the Lake Forest College Community:

I am sending this email to clarify some basic facts about several Aramark staff whose employment ended last week.  Although employed by Aramark, not by the College, these individuals were well known to students, faculty and staff, and were highly regarded, productive and well-liked members of our campus community.  However unavoidable, their departures were disruptive and painful for the employees themselves, and a source of sadness for Aramark and for the College as a whole.

The events leading up to last week began with an anonymous call to Aramark’s national telephone hotline.  Aramark runs food service operations on college campuses across the country and, like many large employers, it maintains a telephone hotline for people to call to report potential problems in any Aramark operation.

The anonymous caller in this case told the hotline that several Aramark dining service employees at Lake Forest College – at least a few of whom the caller identified by name – did not have legal documents and were working unlawfully.

Aramark’s legal department directed Aramark managers here at the College to interview relevant employees and confirm their legal status.  Aramark was required to do this in response to the hotline call:  a failure to do so could have exposed the company and local managers to criminal and civil penalties.

A bilingual HR specialist helped conduct the interviews to make sure that employees fully understood their situation.  This specialist also gave the employees her private office and cell phone numbers, so they could contact her in the future if they need assistance.

I have been informed that eight employees confirmed, in these interviews, that they did not have – and were ineligible to obtain – legal documents entitling them to work in the United States.  These employees then left Aramark’s employment and left campus.  Each will promptly receive from Aramark all wages he or she is owed and any accrued vacation benefits, as well as an additional full month’s pay in severance.

The events of the past week have been sad and unfortunate for our entire campus.  In response to various questions about undocumented workers and the circumstances they face in this area and across the country, the Office of Intercultural Relations, Latinos Unidos and other campus organizations are planning a campus forum.  Please watch for an announcement about this forum in the next few days.

Stephen D. Schutt
President

Lake Forest College