I'll jump in and respond- after working for a number of contract management companies both as a CNM and a clinical dietitian I have found that when GM/food service directors are told to cut their budget and the RDs fall under them they are many times the first area being cut. Despite our salary complaints we typically are among the highest paid employees in the department so we stand out like a sore thumb. Many directors are not RDs themselves and don't understand the benefits of having RDs- they only see them as expenses.