A private company contracted to run facilities management at Saint Leo University has overstated the number of jobs threatened by layoffs.

  • Sodexo gives St. Leo staff notice of layoffs
  • Saint Leo negotiating with Sodexo about contract
  • If no new contract reached, employees can reapply to Saint Leo

Sodexo, an international company that runs plant operations at Saint Leo, recently notified the state and its Saint Leo staff that it would be laying off 201 employees by the end of September.

But Bay News 9 discovered that number is actually much lower – it’s 76 employees.

After cross-referencing with Saint Leo University administration and Sodexo, it turns out 201 was the number of employees who have ever worked at Saint Leo for Sodexo. That figure doesn't accurately reflect the number of those currently working there for Sodexo. The company says it will re-file its notice with the state.

Sodexo spokesperson Greg Yost told Bay News 9 in an emailed statement:

“The administration recently informed Sodexo that our services were no longer needed because it wanted to go in a new direction with the facilities management program on campus.  This prompted Sodexo to give our staff a 60-day notice, as required by the WARN Act.”

The WARN Act is a federal labor law that requires larger companies to notify their workers at least 60 days in advance of layoffs.

Saint Leo University Vice President Denny Moller told Bay News 9 in an emailed statement that the university is “in negotiation with Sodexo about continuing our contract with the company for our plant operations.”

Yost clarified that the Sodexo continues to have an “open dialog” with the university to continue the relationship, but that “we are also preparing for our exit.”

Moller said the university is “extremely pleased with the work of the plant operations employees. If no new agreement is reached, the university would likely hire those same people.”

Those individuals would have to reapply for their jobs. Sodexo told its staff and the state the layoffs would happen September 29.

Below are both statements, in full, from Sodexo and Saint Leo University:

"Sodexo has enjoyed a successful partnership with Saint Leo University and we are proud of the positive impact we've made on the quality of life on campus during that time. The administration recently informed Sodexo that our services were no longer needed because it wanted to go in a new direction with the facilities management program on campus.  This prompted Sodexo to give our staff a 60-day notice, as required by the WARN Act.  Although we continue to have an open dialog with the University in an effort to find an alternative solution that would allow us to stay, we are also preparing for our exit."

“We are in negotiation with Sodexo about continuing our contract with the company for our plant operations,” said Denny Moller, Saint Leo University vice president of advancement and communications. “The university administration is extremely pleased with the work of the plant operations employees. If no new agreement is reached, the university likely would hire those same people.”