IDOT: Theft, Cheating On Promotion Interviews, Timecard Abuse –

Franklin Co., Ill. (ECWd) –

During internal investigations in IDOT District 9, several issues were discovered, and discipline issued to workers. The original complaint included:

• Timecard abuse by one individual who routinely arrived late to work, falsified his timesheet, and management was aware of it and allowed it to occur
• Theft of equipment recovered from the side of the highway, including a trailer and go-cart from the IDOT yard and use of IDOT front loader to load the recovered trailer onto a private trailer
• The same employee was observed falling asleep several time while operating IDOT vehicles

Findings:

• sufficient evidence of late arrivals, but not sufficient evidence of falsifying timecards
• sufficient evidence of falling asleep while driving IDOT vehicles
• sufficient evidence of taking the go-cart
• sufficient evidence of taking the trailer
• sufficient evidence of being untruthful to investigators
• sufficient evidence of failing to properly supervise
• sufficient evidence of use of IDOT front loader to load recovered trailer onto private trailer

Another complaint consisted of:

• allegations of passing around a study book which consisted of interview questions and answers for a Lead Worker promotion interview

Findings:

• that at least three workers were in possession of the interview sheets with questions and answers
• that two workers used those sheets to prepare for their interviews

From records received, the discipline consisted of written reprimands to two individuals.