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SLC Public Health Director scolded by county in Work Place Review, but some employees say he is boon for department

Posted 11/5/16

By JIMMY LAWTON CANTON –St. Lawrence County’s human resources director has recommended Public Health Director Jim Rich receive supervisory training following a recent suspension from his duties, …

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SLC Public Health Director scolded by county in Work Place Review, but some employees say he is boon for department

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON –St. Lawrence County’s human resources director has recommended Public Health Director Jim Rich receive supervisory training following a recent suspension from his duties, but a letter from a group of employees in his department says he has improved working conditions there.

While at least seven members of his staff reported that the office had been running better since Rich took the helm during the summer of 2015, another group filed official complaints about his behavior and complained of policy changes.

That’s according to a “Work Policy Review” document obtained by North Country This Week investigation through a Freedom of Information Law request.

Rich’s policy changes included scheduling issues and a newly implemented call-in policy that required employees to use sick leave time if they called in late or were absent without approval.

“This policy was not vetted with Human Resources and violates the collective bargaining agreement,” the policy review said.

Rich returned from an administrative leave in August following an investigation into the complaints made against him by the employees. The request was partially granted to “North Country This Week, but some of requested information was not supplied or redacted due to privacy concerns.

Notably missing from the documents were the names of the employees who made complaints against Rich.

On June 2, a group of employees met with County Administrator Ruth Doyle and Human Resources Director Paul Smith to discuss concerns regarding interactions with Rich that they said were offensive and inappropriate. They said they believed his actions led to a hostile work environment, the documents say.

That meeting, which took place 11 months after Rich began his job, led to him being placed on paid administrative leave June 8 so that an investigation could be performed.

But a second document obtained by North Country This Week shows at least some of those working in the department believe the environment there has improved significantly since Rich took the helm.

The two page letter addressed to the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators says Rich has improved various programs offered by the department and “created a more relaxed, non-threatening work environment,” by his no tolerance policy on bullying.

Conversely, it’s clear from the Work Place Review documents that Rich had been accused of age discrimination and creating a hostile work environment.

While Rich is believed to have discussed issues of age, evidence found in the investigation “does not support the level of having violated our harassment or discrimination policy,” the documents say.

Other complaints levied against Rich appear to have focused on changes he implemented that were within his purview as the department head.

The findings state that Rich at times illustrated a lack of judgment or use of poor judgment with subordinate staff and missed opportunities to praise employees when making significant achievements.

But Rich’s supporters state in their letter that Rich is the first director in years who has been a boon to the department.

“We truly believe that he is the first director we have been seen in many, many years who actually has a vision for the Public health Department to become viable, efficient and enjoyable place to work. He is unlike past and current administrative staff who only want our department to maintain rather than grow and become strong and provide more services to county residents which will empower county residents to live healthy lives,” the letter says.

In his recommendation to the county administrator, Smith states that Rich assumed supervision of a department that has been though a lot of change over the past decade, which he says has “undoubtedly led to a great deal of resistance from some staff.”

In recent years, the department’s home health service was eliminated and a series of people have rotated through the director’s position, none of them staying for very long.

“However, this does not excuse the noted poor behaviors. It is our recommendation that Mr. Rich receives supervisory training and be given a six-month period to improve his performance as supervision,” Smith wrote.

In the review document Smith says there will be additional review conducted in an ongoing fashion to determine if progress is being made to “develop a team environment, effective performance of job function as well as interactions and communications with subordinate staff are supportive and directed to the person rather than gossip and third-party discussions.”

It is unclear from the document whether or not Rich has been receiving the guidance recommended in the findings.