Found guilty of charges of AWOL, incompetent performance and being disrespectful to the superior, employee terminated
The Department of Environmental Protection charged that a sewage treatment worker was incompetent due to excessive absence and AWOL. The employee was also charged with being disrespectful to a supervisor.
Supervising Administrative Law Judge Joan R. Salzman found that the uncontested proof that employee was absent on 287 of 391 work days during an 18-month period, an absence rate of 73%, established the incompetence charge. Judge Salzman also found that agency proved the AWOL and disrespect charges.
Noting respondent’s “abysmal attendance record (exacerbated by his use of profanity to his supervisor),” Judge Salzman found the AWOLs and the incompetence due to excessive absence to be independent bases for termination, and recommended termination of the individual’s employment. Her recommendation was adopted by the appointing authority.
The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://archive.citylaw.org/oath/12_Cases/12-1420.pdf