Trenches of Democracy

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

H. Irregular Job Posting and Hiring Procedures… Continued
A subtle result of political hiring is its long term effect on the careers of other employees. One claimant has been employed with a medium sized department since the 1990’s and received her first and last promotion ten years ago. After claimant’s last promotion, a politically connected individual was hired for a position above the claimant. The individual was hired despite a notation on the last page of her resun1e indicating she “does not have relative work experience.” Claimant alleges that the individual remains in the job and performs her job so poorly, that the consequence is that there is no chance she will be promoted based on merit. Claimant contends that as long as this unqualified, politically connected individual remains on the job, claimant has virtually no chance of advancement.

Many claimants describe how illegal patronage has affected their morale. One claimant at a large department has been working in the capacity as an Administrative Assistant for several years. She currently works alongside an Administrative Assistant who is widely reported as being politically connected. Claimant performs greater duties than her co-worker despite the fact her co-worker makes more money. In fact, claimant alleges her co-worker refuses assignments that would normally fall within her job description. It falls on claimant to perform her co-worker’s duties. Claimant describes how discouraged and cynical she has become and how she struggles to perform her job well.

To be continued…

You can read the full Shakman report here.

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

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