Trenches of Democracy

Excerpts from the second semi-annual report by Shakman Compliance Administrator (CA) Julia M. Nowicki:

I. Impact of Patronage Upon Co-Workers

A consequence of illegal patronage is the impact upon co-workers. One such consequence is the pressure exerted on employees to “‘play along” in ways contrary to their principles. One claimant, who previously served in a supervisory position and who was awaiting an upgrade with increase in pay, was designated as an interviewer for an open position within his department. The claimant reports that he was advised that if he wanted the promotion he was awaiting, he had to recommend a politically connected individual for the position for which he served as an interviewer. The claimant reports that the politically connected individual did not have the required skills, which were vital to the position and that her lack of skills were noted on her Decision to Hire/Justification to Hire form.

Another way co-workers are affected is by the pressure to perform political work in exchange for job advancement. For example, a claimant contends that she had been contacted at work for the County to report to a political organization’s office the following Saturday. When she arrived, she discovered that she was expected to do political work. She quickly approached the person in charge and advised him that she was unwilling to participate. Claimant was later told by an individual in her Human Resources department that she was “blackballed” since she refused to do political work. Since refusing to perform political work, she has not received an upgrade despite working outside her Job Title and Grade.

To be continued…

You can read the full Shakman report here.

Tags: Cook County, Nowicki, Patronage, Shakman, Stroger

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