TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Utilities Worker Suspended Without Pay

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: January 5, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Utilities worker Jason Booker on Monday was suspended without pay for five days for repeated absenteeism and his inability to substantiate a doctor's note, Human Resources Director Cheryl Marsden said.
When he returns to work Jan. 13, Booker, 21, will be reassigned to another position in the utilities department which places him in a different work environment, Marsden said.
"This is a lateral move with no change in pay," she said.
Marsden said Booker will be on probation for six months in the new position and will receive coaching through the county's employee assistance program.
"Any additional absences without a legitimate doctor's note or failure to comply with the terms set forth by the HR Department will result in immediate termination," Marsden said.
The event has received added interest because the mother of the employee is alleging that racial harassment of her son is behind the absences.
Rodriguez said late Monday she would speak to Booker's attorneys before deciding the next move. She believes the county does not understand the seriousness of the situation.
"It's totally related to the retaliation and I think they're trying to create a paper trail to fire him, and that's the ultimate retaliation," Rodriguez said.
County Administrator David Hamilton said last month the investigation into Jason Booker, 21, has to do with attendance and has nothing to do with racial harassment.
However, Booker's mother, Martha Rodriguez, has told Hernando Today her son continues to be harassed in retaliation for a county probe last April that resulted in three county utility department workers receiving varying disciplinary punishments after it was determined they racially harassed Booker.
In a letter to State Sen. Paula Dockery, Rodriguez alleged Booker took so many days off because of stress and anxiety from discrimination dating back to the April incident when she assisted her son in filing a discrimination charge against some county utility department workers, one of whom was her son's direct supervisor.
In a memo issued Monday, Marsden outlines the sequence of events this way:
On Aug. 22, 2008, Booker was issued a verbal counseling because of excessive unplanned absences.
On Monday, Nov. 17, Booker called in sick to his immediate supervisor, Dan LeCompte.
The next day, Booker was informed by his supervisor that he needed to bring in a doctor's note, the memo said.
On Nov. 19, he brought in a note from the Hernando County Health Department that indicated he was seen there on Nov. 17. But that note was not signed, Marsden said in the memo.
Booker said that the health department did not sign notes, the memo said.
On Nov. 19, Booker's supervisor informed him that the doctor's note was invalid and he needed to get a signed slip, the memo said.
Booker brought in a signed slip from the health department on Nov. 20, Marsden's memo said.
The county attorney's office contacted the health department and was informed that any slips issued by that department would have to be signed, the memo said.
The health department verified it had no record of Booker being seen as a patient since 2007, the memo said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT