Lang’s job, two information technology jobs and a training position were eliminated in early October, and another 14 people were let go later in the month, as a part of the massive overhaul of the agency that began in February. The 14 people were members of the Family Connections center where parents have supervised visits with their children. The county says it can save about $800,000 by outsourcing that service.
Human Resources Director Gary Sheets said Lang could be alleging any number of things.
“You can claim there is some defect in the process, or you could claim the statutes allow the elimination of positions for certain reasons, you could claim that’s not really the reason,” he said. “You could claim there is some reason in the background other the reason given why this is happening.”
He said actions like this could also include an employee’s right to bump a co-worker who is lower on the seniority chain or to be put into newly created positions they might qualify for. At the time Lang’s job was eliminated, the agency also got commissioner approval to advertise for two new administrative positions.
Administrator Charlie Young said Lang’s former responsibilities overseeing foster family and adoption placements have been absorbed by others. As for whatever her complaint might be, he said the county has acted appropriately.
“It’s just the natural course of Donna’s exercising the rights that she has,” Young said. “We don’t know what in particular the issue is she’s going to raise, but we are reorganizing, we’ve done what we believe is appropriate and spent a considerable amount of time in doing that. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Not only is the agency in the throes of reinventing itself, but it is striving to close an estimated $2 million budget gap. The outsourcing of Family Connections was a cost savings, but Executive Director Jerome Kearns also said services will be better delivered.
The social workers’ union, which spent three weeks walking a picket line in August and September, said the county is retaliating against them for striking and that’s why the 14 employees were let go. They have filed a complaint with the State Employment Relations Board.
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