Bentley University has cut 173 dining jobs as it prepares to swap out longtime food service provider Sodexo for a new contractor. The layoffs, announced this week, come ahead of Chartwells Higher Education taking control of campus dining in August. University leaders and the incoming vendor say many of those same workers could be brought back under the new operation.
According to The Boston Business Journal, Bentley is ending its Sodexo contract and bringing in Chartwells Higher Education, and that change triggered the 173 layoffs. The outlet reports that both Bentley and Chartwells say they expect to offer positions to workers affected by the transition.
Chartwells Touts New Era in Bentley Dining
On its LinkedIn page, Chartwells Higher Education said it was “excited to welcome Bentley University as our newest campus partner” and previewed plans for interactive teaching kitchens and student-centered dining events. The company cast the Bentley deal as another piece of its broader higher education portfolio rather than a one-off campus takeover.
Job Listings Hint at Fast-Track Rehiring
What the Shakeup Means for Dining Workers
Switches between major campus dining contractors often follow a familiar script. Staff are laid off under the outgoing company, then rehired or invited to apply by the incoming vendor. Chartwells Higher Education says it partners with more than 320 colleges and universities nationwide, a scale that gives it experience with this kind of turnover but can still leave workers in limbo while interviews, offers, and onboarding play out.
Legal Note…