“The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.”
– President Barack Obama, Inauguration, 1/20/09
An American not doing the work that another American would do the work? Or indicative of just a “different” work ethos overall?
A federal employee last year received $25,500, or over four months of pay, for work he didn’t do, and his manager failed to notice anything until an anonymous whistleblower left a letter saying the employee “never shows up to work” and produces “garbage.”
…While the unnamed official from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office claimed to be working hundreds of hours, “there was no evidence” he went to the office or used his government-issued laptop at all, according to an investigation by USPTO’s acting inspector general.
When the examiner did show up for work, he’d leave early to play golf, pool or socialize. Patent applicants and attorneys complained many times that they could not reach the employee by phone or email.
…This employee’s “actions raise concerns about whether the agency’s internal controls to prevent such misconduct are adequate and function properly,” reported investigators.
…This investigation follows on a finding last year that 8,300 patent examiners lied repeatedly about the hours they were working, and received bonuses for work they didn’t do. “An internal investigation prompted by multiple whistleblower complaints found evidence that few cheaters were disciplined for fraud, and a culture where union rules allowed supervisors limited oversight over their employees,” reported the Washington Post.
The question is, if this layabout was in the private sector, how long would this have lasted? Not only that, how long would his managers have held onto their jobs, too?
(H/T: Washington Examiner)