Duke to Continue Pay for Employees, Food Service and Hotel Workers

Dear Colleagues,

Duke has a dedicated workforce of employees and contractors who support our essential missions of education, research, patient care and public service.  As the coronavirus crisis continues to spread, we want to reiterate our commitment that all Duke faculty and staff will continue to stay in a paid work status regardless of their work location or work schedule. 

We also know that contract workers in our food service facilities and hotels, while not directly employed by Duke, are equally valuable members of our community.  Thus, we are making a commitment to provide financial assistance to ensure that all food service workers who are currently assigned to work full-time in Duke University facilities as well as employees of the Washington Duke Inn and J.B. Duke Hotel will maintain their current pay through May 31, 2020, to the extent that their employers are unable to do so, and they are not covered by pending state and federal government programs. 

As part of this effort, we may need to reassign both Duke employees and contract workers to new and different job responsibilities to meet urgent needs.  Details on that process will be forthcoming.  In the meantime, please know how grateful we are for your service during this extraordinary time.  Our university and our community are better for it. 

Tallman Trask III
Executive Vice President