The growing number of assistants to the top level administrators are asked to work 29 hour weeks, like some members of maintenance are, in order to keep them under the statutory levels that would require them to receive health care benefits. More horrifying still, additional hours are “contracted” so that even if the person works more than 29 hours the additional work time won’t push them into the statutory level for benefits.

That sounds like an evil legal loophole tactic that puts money over the health and well being of our community, the human beings who make Esalen magical.

A long-term member of the community was kept at “staff fill-in” status in the Kitchen for months, to avoid having to provide her benefits. Another long-term member of the community has recently been struck with major illness, and has no health care benefits because he has been kept at 29 hours indefinitely.

—Anonymous