Alejandra Yaรฑez | THE RIDER
UTRGV students struggle with the challenges of being in the workforce during the pandemic, such as limited employment options, unemployment and the constant threat of COVID-19.
The Rider interviewed Suzan Guzman, a criminal justice sophomore, who works as a security guard at a technological site, to see what students are confronting off campus.
Guzman asked The Rider to not specify the name of her job site.
Asked if she felt comfortable with the manner in which her job is running during the pandemic, Guzman replied, โNo, because if something happens, if someone is sick, they wonโt notify the security guards. They handle everything on their own.โ
Guzman told The Rider that there have been many instances where an employee is removed from their designated work area and brought to the front of the building where she patrols.
โSo, letโs say one of the workers was coughing on one side of the building while working at the computers,โ Guzman said. โTheyโll [staff members] bring that person to the front where I am, and they can just keep coughing there. Theyโll spray down everything, but they wonโt tell me anything. Theyโll just let them keep coughing on the area where Iโm at, unless we ask them โHey, whatโs going on?โ Or they just send that person home and not tell us anything.โ
In March, when the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Rio Grande Valley, Guzmanโs site was shut down.
When the site reopened there were major cuts in employment. The number of security guards at her site was originally seven, but was gradually reduced to three.
However, Guzman is not alone in her struggle to stay employed.
Another UTRGV student who asked to remain anonymous, was furloughed after two weeks of working for an animal shelter back in March. She was brought back about a month later.
Upon her return, she also experienced a drastic shortage in staff. Due to this, her responsibilities and hours at the shelter increased significantly.
In contrast, Guzman found herself struggling to get hours.
โIt went from my hours being fully available, to having to wait until someone got sick before I was able to get more shifts,โ Guzman said. โAt one point I was only working eight hours a week.โ
Asked what requirements are being enforced at their jobs, both sources replied, social distancing within 6 feet is encouraged and masks are to be worn at all times inside their buildings.
Guzman said her site is now requiring a temperature check upon entry to the building, while the animal shelter is not allowing anyone inside its facilities and working in shifts of three.
Asked how comfortable she felt at work, The Riders anonymous source said she feels almost 80% safe with the updated policies, but is still uneasy about having to trust her coworkers in the office.
โMy coworkers, I do have to rely on them, and trust them when they say that theyโre social distancing outside of work,โ Guzman said.
She told The Rider she also experiences fear of contracting the virus at work because of the lack of communication when employees exhibit symptoms.
โWe arenโt being told whatโs going on,โ she said. โSo what if I touch a surface that they did not disinfect right and I can get sick.โ
Like many university students, Guzman said she continues to work during the pandemic because she depends on the income.
Asked what she would change about her work situation, Guzman replied,โI wish my company was better with communication. Since we are contracted [security guards], they see us at that site as people who are just there. They don’t see us as workers, so we’re not informed on certain things.โ
Many students are at the forefront of this virus and thatโs why the UTRGV Career Center is doing its part to help students find jobs and stay safe.
Lourdes Servantes, associate director for the Career Center, said they are providing activities to help students with the job search, starting things like micro internships and internships that can be done from home.
The center is also reaching out to local communities to find openings both remote and in person.
โOn campus positions, thereโs only so many,โ Servantes said. โThereโs a lot more students looking for jobs than there are jobs available. So, one of the big things weโre doing is trying to work with local employers to try to identify as many virtual opportunities as possible.โ
Servantes encourages students seeking employment to log onto Handshake where positions are posted regularly.
The Career Center also hosts its Virtual Drop-In Hours via Zoom, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, where students can ask career related questions and get their rรฉsumรฉs reviewed.
โThis is an unsure time, and just like with any economic change it brings about anxiousness about finding jobs, but you have to be patient,โ Servantes said.
