in response to charges that workers can't make ends meet, upmc opens employee food pantry (Pittsburgh: apartment, leasing)

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by Hopes

I know someone who holds a very high position at UPMC. Guess what's funny about one of the upper level's fringe benefits? They get free internet for their homes! The lowest paid workers can't buy food. The highest paid employees, the ones who can certainly afford to pay for internet, get internet for free! I always thought that was strange. This thread has inspired me to call him tomorrow.

Is there a reason for this person getting their home internet coverage reimbursed? Such as, they are expected to be able to work remotely at any time? I honestly have never heard of this type of benefit at UPMC and I'm quite familiar with their benefits for senior management. However, I do know of people who either work remotely part or all of the time who do get all or some of their home internet reimbursed by the company.

[alex_jones]

I wonder why these people who consider the employees of a particular business to be underpaid don't just go in there and dole out some cash to them.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by alex_jones

I wonder why these people who consider the employees of a particular business to be underpaid don't just go in there and dole out some cash to them.

It's all about trade-offs. For professional positions UPMC tends to pay better than counterparts at the University of Pittsburgh. With that being said employees of the University of Pittsburgh just enjoyed the entire holiday season off as built-in paid vacation in addition to another few weeks of vacation time they can accrue and take annually. I've also heard that the University of Pittsburgh offers many other perks that UPMC employees don't receive. I work for a major financial institution in the city and wish they both would stop whining about how much their jobs suck because in addition to our low salaries we get 10 vacation days annually, which are hard to receive approval to take and just get taken away if unused, no sick time, poor health benefits, and have a lot of stress piled upon us by management. We're college-educated professionals. Those at UPMC whining about their low wages aren't, yet in some cases they still make more than I do. For as bad as UPMC employees think they have it they still have it much better than employees of some other major employers in the city. I can tell you from personal experience that I KNOW many of these UPMC employees who proclaim to be starving to death are still squandering money away on "extras" like cigarettes, gambling, high-speed Internet & premium cable, vehicles outside their realistic budget, etc.

[heartchya]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

It's all about trade-offs. For professional positions UPMC tends to pay better than counterparts at the University of Pittsburgh. With that being said employees of the University of Pittsburgh just enjoyed the entire holiday season off as built-in paid vacation in addition to another few weeks of vacation time they can accrue and take annually. I've also heard that the University of Pittsburgh offers many other perks that UPMC employees don't receive. I work for a major financial institution in the city and wish they both would stop whining about how much their jobs suck because in addition to our low salaries we get 10 vacation days annually, which are hard to receive approval to take and just get taken away if unused, no sick time, poor health benefits, and have a lot of stress piled upon us by management. We're college-educated professionals. Those at UPMC whining about their low wages aren't, yet in some cases they still make more than I do. For as bad as UPMC employees think they have it they still have it much better than employees of some other major employers in the city. I can tell you from personal experience that I KNOW many of these UPMC employees who proclaim to be starving to death are still squandering money away on "extras" like cigarettes, gambling, high-speed Internet & premium cable, vehicles outside their realistic budget, etc.

You "KNOW" from personal experience that the people complaining are squandering their money away? I would love to know how you know this. Do you personally know the woman mentioned in the article? Doubt it. Assuming is not knowing.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by heartchya

You "KNOW" from personal experience that the people complaining are squandering their money away? I would love to know how you know this. Do you personally know the woman mentioned in the article? Doubt it. Assuming is not knowing.

Without revealing too much I do have access to the account history and spending habits of many at UPMC who proclaim they aren't paid enough and are "struggling", and I almost always see excesses that can be trimmed from their own budgets. I'd also like to understand why it's permissible for so many of these downtrodden UPMC employees to be forming a cohesive smoking barrier around every entry/exit to their hospitals when a "pack a smokes" is exorbitantly expensive right now?

[heartchya]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Without revealing too much I do have access to the account history and spending habits of many at UPMC who proclaim they aren't paid enough and are "struggling", and I almost always see excesses that can be trimmed from their own budgets. I'd also like to understand why it's permissible for so many of these downtrodden UPMC employees to be forming a cohesive smoking barrier around every entry/exit to their hospitals when a "pack a smokes" is exorbitantly expensive right now?

Ha. Well I certainly hope you have a business reason to be looking in these people's personal accounts. I used to work at PNC and while I had access to pull up accounts you most certainly were not allowed to unless there was a business reason.

You seem to think that just because your employer doesn't pay you well and you have crap benefits that that makes it okay that UPMC employees are underpaid as well.

There are plenty of employers who do treat their employees well. I work for one. I have been at my new job since last March. My PTO just started over I am given 21 vacation days up front and 5 sick days. I haven't even been there a year. I have BCBS for insurance with a reasonable deductible ($350) and it only cost $60 a pay for myself and my daughter. I am paid in the mid 30s and I do not have (gasp!) a bachelor's degree. While 35k is not some grand amount--I feel lucky to be making it. I started working in my early twenties at PNC and then Highmark. I am 28 now.

My frustration with UPMC and some of the other larger corporations is that they most certainly can do better by their employees. I know I am extremely grateful for my job and my company which makes me a happier, harder working employee for them.

[sparrowmint]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Without revealing too much..

I would probably be careful what you admit to on a public forum. Just a piece of friendly advice.

[longtimeparesident]

this thread is very interesting

any1 work at upmc health plan? do we see similar things there?

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Without revealing too much I do have access to the account history and spending habits of many at UPMC

You're notorious enough here that someone who doesn't like you could call up PNC or UPMC, point them this way, and say "Look at this clown who works for you..." and you'd be out of a job like that, just because you don't know when to shut your big yap.

Just when I think you can't be any more of a blabosaurus...

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by heartchya

Ha. Well I certainly hope you have a business reason to be looking in these people's personal accounts. I used to work at PNC and while I had access to pull up accounts you most certainly were not allowed to unless there was a business reason.

Originally Posted by jay5835

You're notorious enough here that someone who doesn't like you could call up PNC or UPMC, point them this way, and say "Look at this clown who works for you..." and you'd be out of a job like that, just because you don't know when to shut your big yap.

Just when I think you can't be any more of a blabosaurus...

Certainly a lot of assumptions going on here. Never once did I say I just randomly look up people's accounts without having a legitimate business reason to do so. Throughout the course of each day I have people at their wit's end who are already flat broke the Monday subsequent to their paydays and come to me to complain about overdraft fees. I already know I will be facing a workday replete with this nonsense tomorrow. My sympathy is minimal for those who sit in front of me reeking of cigarette smoke and who incurred such negative financial circumstances through living beyond their means. What business do you have eating at Cheesecake Factory or having a high Comcast bill and then screaming "it's not fair" when you receive a fee for going negative with your account? Unlike a lot of UPMC employees I am fully capable of looking in the mirror when I overspend and assign blame squarely where it belongs---not displacing my anger and frustrations onto others. When I see that these people receive a net pay higher than my own via direct deposit why SHOULD I have any sympathy when I'm capable of living resourcefully on a more meager salary? You just have to love how people assume you make so much more money than they do just because you wear a suit.

Call me whatever names you'd like, jay5835. I'm standing my ground that I'm not paid nearly enough to endure the sob stories of people who earn more than I do and still can't break even financially due to a lack of discipline. Let UPMC employees pick up second jobs like many of my colleagues do. Otherwise their employer is NOT unique in undercompensating their employees.