ADDITIONAL NOTE (3 hours after initial post): I called and left a personal message with Rob Lawton. I simply told him that he and Brian Swetz are responsible for not having safeguards so that the payroll mistake never happens again. I asked that he simply do the right thing and rescind the firing of Jason Parrish (see below). It is all a matter of doing the right thing!! If he cannot do the right thing then I assured him the issue would not die.
OTHER ADDITIONAL NOTE: I worked as a Senior Financial Analyst for a Fortune 200 company.
1) No one was ever fired because "the numbers" were a day late.
2) I have never heard of someone being fired while on vacation.
It is the absolute responsibility of Lawton and Swetz to be prepared for the payroll if the regular person is missing. It is laughable to think that the managers don't bear responsibility. This is one of the WORST examples of leadership I have ever seen. If Parrish is not hired back - I hope he gets an attorney quickly. I will testify as an expert witness about best practices. This is a travesty.
In what is one of the more cowardly moves I have seen in a while…
Luzerne County Budget and policy analyst Jason Parrish was fired. Parrish is a ten year veteran making a paltry $35,000 who was given (in TL) phenomenal reviews by the past Controller. See link HERE. The County payroll was hours (to a day) late.
WHY? Because of a “mistake” (used loosely)… once… while Parrish was on vacation!! County payroll was delayed a few hours for some… a day for others.
So the bar is set. The county standard is: If you make one mistake, regardless if you are on vacation, then kiss 10 years and your pension good bye. But it is truly worse than this. The unions aren’t filing a grievance and (to my knowledge) none of the 1400 employees has come forth claiming they were materially harmed and no one has said they want Jason Parrish fired over what... in the grand scheme of things... was at most a minor inconvenience for a small minority.
Compare: Recently it was revealed that the county had a $ 10 million overage (a negative surprise) in their operating expenses. Anybody deemed responsible for not catching it? Nope. Lawton's/Swetz's process of "mistake picking" is apparently highly selective!!
NEW SINCE ORIGINAL POST: VIDEO OF TUESDAY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE BLAME IS SQUARELY PUT on LAWTON AND SWETZ!!! SEE VIDEO HERE (Swetz is at podium)
Compare: Recently it was revealed that the county had a $ 10 million overage (a negative surprise) in their operating expenses. Anybody deemed responsible for not catching it? Nope. Lawton's/Swetz's process of "mistake picking" is apparently highly selective!!
NEW SINCE ORIGINAL POST: VIDEO OF TUESDAY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE BLAME IS SQUARELY PUT on LAWTON AND SWETZ!!! SEE VIDEO HERE (Swetz is at podium)
So… Jason Parrish has set a new precedent. One mistake and you are fired. Let’s look at the other players here:
COUNTY MANAGER ROBERT LAWTON: From the Times Leader article: “Lawton communicated plans for a policy that will prevent the problem again” Why wasn’t a policy already in place? Is it not a mistake to have no policy or safeguards already in place? for 1400 people? I believe it is. Using your standards, Lawton, you hung yourself with that comment. LAWTON – YOU’RE FIRED.
County Budget/Finance Division Head Brian Swetz: From the Times Leader article: Swetz said, “The employee (Parrish) who authorizes this transfer was off and did not make arrangements for another employee with the appropriate security clearance to handle the task.” WHO IS THE DIVISION HEAD WHO WAS THERE THAT DAY? SWETZ, THAT'S WHO! WHY DIDN'T SWETZ HAVE A FAIL SAFE? WHO IS MORE RESPONSIBLE, THE HEAD COACH OR THE ASSISTANT. WERE THERE MISTAKES HERE? OF COURSE THERE WERE! SWETZ – YOU’RE FIRED!
Drama Queen Award goes to Paula Schnelly, of AFSCME who (please forgive me while I wipe away tears) claimed workers' credit ratings would be destroyed!!!! Show me one person whose credit rating was destroyed by the direct deposit being hours/ 1 day late and I will give you $1,000. Cry me a river. Consumer tip: If your balance is zero… maybe you should forego Black Friday shopping. Just a tip.
Furthermore... The only people that could be hurt are employees' who used their debit card with a very low balance within a very tight window. Do you actually think the bank won't drop the "nickel and dime" fees and jeopardize a customet (the county) that provides $73 million per years to the bank? Can we use a little common sense here?
PNC BANK where Leighton's sister was (is?) the manager. If they receive over one million bi-weekly... shouldn't they have contacted the county? A phone call perhaps?
Is this all Parrish's (the man who was fired) fault?
Furthermore... The only people that could be hurt are employees' who used their debit card with a very low balance within a very tight window. Do you actually think the bank won't drop the "nickel and dime" fees and jeopardize a customet (the county) that provides $73 million per years to the bank? Can we use a little common sense here?
PNC BANK where Leighton's sister was (is?) the manager. If they receive over one million bi-weekly... shouldn't they have contacted the county? A phone call perhaps?
Is this all Parrish's (the man who was fired) fault?
SCAPEGOATING AND BULLYING. THAT’S ALL THIS IS. I HATE BULLIES. AND SO DO MOST EVERYONE. This would have turned out differently is Parrish’s last name was Majikes, Leighton, Toole, Rodano, Kane, Ryan, or Dessoye.
I WILL NOT RELENT ON THIS STORY UNTIL PARRISH IS RE-HIRED. I ASK FOR THE PUBLIC’S SUPPORT ON THIS OUTRAGE. CAN SOMEONE START A PETITION? I ASK ANYONE: HAVE YOU MADE A MISTAKE AT WORK? EVER? WHILE ON VACATION?
town - this is one of the worst examples of leadership I have seen. You have set the bar really, really low.
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