Skipping Hurricane Dorian duty costs Palm Beach County employees a week’s pay

No-show employees during Irma weren't disciplined because that was the county's first run-through response following the policy change, said Palm Beach County Human Resources Director Wayne Condry. The policy had not been enacted again until Dorian.

One suspended employee, who spoke with The Post on the condition of anonymity, said they did not show up to their assignment because they did not feel safe working at a shelter and wanted to be with their family.

"I don't mind cleaning the streets. I don't mind giving people water," the employee said. "Do not confine me to a shelter away from my family."

The employee said county staff filled out a survey in 2018 to describe their skill sets and received training through an hour-long video. But the employee wanted an opportunity to change their work assignment, which was not granted.

The employee said the week-long suspension was "too harsh because it's not fair. We are being discriminated (against). That's just the way I feel."

If their emergency assignment was skipped again, the employee was told they would be fired.

The county found that more than 100 employees did not report for Hurricane Dorian duty, but those figures included excused absences for those who are eligible for family medical leave or had vacation time during the Labor Day weekend, Condry said.

Palm Beach County activated its Emergency Operations Center in anticipation of Dorian, which lingered about 100 miles off its coast in early September but didn't make landfall in Florida. Employees were notified of the activation through blast emails or phone calls.

All of the employees who were disciplined were assigned to shelter duty, Condry said.

"The reasons (for not showing up) run the gamut," he said. "Everything from personal emergencies to having their phone off."

Condry sympathized with the suspended employees, saying "we would all rather be doing something else" over working during a hurricane.

But at the same time, he said government employees have an elevated role and responsibility .

"We work for the public. As a result of that, I think there's an inherent responsibility in us to serve the public in times of emergencies," he said.

hmorse@pbpost.com

@mannahhorse

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