City Makes Changes In Tracking Workers On Job

In the year after 10 Investigates found Columbus Recreation and Parks workers wasting time while they were on the job, the city said that it has made several changes.

10 Investigates’ Paul Aker found employees who were on the clock but were not doing their jobs.

Two of the workers who were caught on camera chose to take early retirement, while three others received written reprimands.

Last year, 10 Investigates followed several crews for weeks.  One worker was seen spending the day shopping and talking on his non-city cell phone.  Other workers were seen driving in circles, hour after hour. 

An assistant manager was seen parking his city truck at his brother’s home and would remain there for several hours.  Occasionally he would go out shopping.  His time card proved he was getting paid the entire time.

10 Investigates’ findings clearly caught Alan McKnight, director of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, by surprise.

“I cannot condone what I see,” McKnight said.  “That's not behavior we expect. I am frustrated, embarrassed and very angry by it.”

The department now makes its workers will out detailed sheets to show where their workers have been for the day and how many miles they have driven.  According to McKnight, he and others also make spot checks in the field.

“We hopefully have put some improvements in place at this point,” McKnight said.  If it does occur, we’ll catch it much sooner this time.”

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