Editor's Note: This article has been updated to clarify which entity issued the layoff notices in connection with the Bentley University dining transition.
Sodexo — operating as SDH Education East, LLC — is laying off 173 dining workers at Bentley University as the school prepares to bring in a new food service contractor. The layoffs, announced this week, come ahead of Chartwells Higher Education taking control of campus dining in August. University leaders and the incoming vendor say many of those same workers could be brought back under the new operation.
According to The Boston Business Journal, Bentley is ending its Sodexo contract and bringing in Chartwells Higher Education, and that change triggered the 173 layoffs filed by Sodexo. The outlet reports that both Bentley and Chartwells say they expect to offer positions to workers affected by the transition.
Chartwells Touts New Era in Bentley Dining
On its LinkedIn page, Chartwells Higher Education said it was “excited to welcome Bentley University as our newest campus partner” and previewed plans for interactive teaching kitchens and student-centered dining events. The company cast the Bentley deal as another piece of its broader higher education portfolio rather than a one-off campus takeover.
Job Listings Hint at Fast-Track Rehiring
Fresh postings on Compass Group’s careers site, under the Chartwells banner, already list openings at Bentley’s campus at 175 Forest Street in Waltham. Roles advertised include grill cook and cashier, with pay ranges and application links that suggest Chartwells is actively staffing up before the August handoff. For more information, see Compass Group.
What the Shakeup Means for Dining Workers
Switches between major campus dining contractors often follow a familiar script. Staff are laid off under the outgoing company, then rehired or invited to apply by the incoming vendor. Chartwells Higher Education says it partners with more than 320 colleges and universities nationwide, a scale that gives it experience with this kind of turnover but can still leave workers in limbo while interviews, offers, and onboarding play out.
Legal Note
Federal WARN rules require 60 days’ notice in certain mass layoffs and plant closings, and large job cuts can also trigger state rapid-response efforts that connect workers with re-employment services. Guidance on those requirements is laid out by the U.S. Department of Labor and in the Commonwealth’s rapid-response materials on Mass.gov.
Both Bentley and Chartwells told The Boston Business Journal that they plan to rehire as Chartwells begins services in August, and the active job postings for the Waltham campus show that recruiting is already underway. Students and staff should expect noticeable changes in how dining operates once the new contract kicks in.
