Letter to the Editor: Some of cuts lack professionalism or human kindness

In regard to the July 2 issue of the Daily Sun, of the approximately 250 employees who lost their jobs, one can only assume they all experienced a similar shock as a dear friend of mine did. After decades of faithful service to NAU, an email, not even a face-to-face communication or even several weeks of advanced communication, greeted my friend. He was told in this communication that he had four hours to retrieve any professional or personal data from his NAU issued laptop, and access to his office would be coming to an abrupt end. Four hours!

According to Associate Vice President of Communications Kimberly Ott (who I am NOT blaming for this reduction in force), “We (NAU) acted early from strength.” She said, “The university has been reducing its total of employees ‘through the least disruptive means available.'” Informing an employee that he/she has four hours to not just physically vacate their place of employment for the last 25 years, but to suddenly face unexpected unemployment is, in fact, very “disruptive” and lacks any degree of prior communication, respect, professionalism and basic human kindness.