Callous COVID response part of pattern from UF president
Michael Hill
Guest columnist
University of Florida President Kent Fuchs once again has shown the community of Gainesville and the student body that he is only out for himself. His callous COVID response is not new. It is a result of weak leadership.
Fuchs would rather keep his position than protect the student body or the Gainesville community. His actions speak louder than his words. Real educators like Alachua County Public Schools Superintendent Carlee Simon and most of our teachers are doing everything they can to make sure their students and themselves are safe.
Fuchs only cares about his image and the image of the university. Even at the risk of removal, he should have still implemented a mask mandate because it is the right thing to do.
Whether it is every aspect of football games, the lack of equity or his response to COVID-19, the people of this community including the student body should expect nothing more from him or his administration. Whenever the local government advances good, sound policy like a tree canopy master plan, Fuchs decides to do the exact opposite.
He doesn’t work with local government to make life easier for the people of this town. The university’s lack of understanding of equity and equality has not changed much since the days of Black Tuesday and segregation.
This is the same president who decided to destroy conservation lands in our community known as McCarty Woods. Even if it was not his decision, he was silent. Silence can be violence. He knows this community is environmentally conscious and decided to not speak up.
Instead of working with the community, he is out for himself. He should resign from his post.
Michael Hill is a history major with a planning minor at UF.
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Michael Hill readies to expand team by 1200
Michael Hill has launched its Festive Season recruitment drive, offering 1,200 new jobs across three markets.
The business will recruit 580 retail staff in Australia, 260 staff in New Zealand and 360 staff in Canada, helping it manage the busy trading period.
The hiring blitz comes as many Aussies continue to feel the impact of the pandemic on their jobs, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reporting that employment fell by 146,000 people (1.1%) and hours worked dropped by 3.7% in August 2021.
Michael Hill chief people officer Jo Matthews said the business supports its new team members with training and support.
“We are so excited to be able to provide more than 1,100 people the opportunity to join the Michael Hill family.
“We have an incredibly diverse team and provide an environment that is inclusive of people from all kinds of backgrounds.
“Michael Hill has best-in-class training to onboard new team members to ensure they succeed.
“We are looking for people who want to create outstanding experiences for our customers in a professional environment working with a business who cares about their team and community,” she said.
The recruitment drive also comes off the back of the retailer’s introduction of a new employment experience platform, which gives its team members a new way to offer feedback to the business.
A recent survey of the team found that 85% of staff feel a sense of personal accomplishment from their work and would recommend Michael Hill to others as a great place to work – which is 13% above the retail industry average.
Additionally, new recruits will have access to team member discounts after the first month, training and development, and the opportunity for career progression if desired.
“Last year, we were able to offer one in four of our seasonal team members the opportunity to continue in an ongoing position with us,” Matthews added.
“As a global business that is performing exceptionally well, we are proud of our team and of our ability to provide more than a thousand employment opportunities for people during these challenging times.
“We love what we do,” she said.
Across Australia, there will be 160 jobs available in New South Wales, 130 in Victoria/Tasmania, 130 in Queensland, 100 in Western Australia, 40 in South Australia and 20 in the Northern Territory.