You Didn’t Quit Your State Job? Here’s Some Money!

Hey, guys. You know you don’t just get attendance awards in school. In Oklahoma, you can get a nice sweetener just for sticking around in a job….

…and it’s better than that! Even if you’re crummy you can get the money!

Oklahoma paid state employees nearly $42 million in a tenure-like bonus last year regardless of performance, a Tulsa World analysis found.

….
Although longevity pay rewards tenure, it does not focus on good or effective work.

Some of the 121 employees who collected longevity pay and were disciplined or fought their department committed offenses serious enough to be discharged, involuntarily demoted or suspended without pay between 2007-09, a Tulsa World analysis of Merit Protection Commission data shows.

….
Between 2007-09, state agencies suspended without pay at least 14 state employees who collected longevity pay last year. They discharged at least four and involuntarily demoted at least three.

Those numbers are likely many times higher, but the Merit Protection Commission only hears cases in which the person appeals an action. Also, the World could not analyze ongoing cases, which the state’s Open Records Act closes to public review.

….
In 2008, a Department of Rehabilitation Services employee was suspended without pay after the merit commission ruled that he negligently used a state-issued credit card, reports show.

Also in 2008, a Department of Transportation employee was given a letter of reprimand for failing to meet deadlines and for not performing her job.

Both workers earned at least $1,500 in longevity pay last year, data show.

Oklahoma currently has a $500 million budget deficit, and this program cost $42 million in 2010. Looking at the local unemployment figures, Oklahoma has been well under the national average, so I can see making the argument that you need to be a bit more competitive with pay…but….hard to tell.

In any cases, many state employees are finding out that some nice situations have suddenly come to an end as the muni bond markets have tightened and budgets need to be balanced. Maybe they should be happy they’ve got jobs.

Share