A New Orleans commission ordered the City Council to hire an employee who had been fired for alleged sexual harassment in the workplace because he determined that his actions did not damage the “efficient operation” of the office.
The former Secretary of the Council Lora Johnson was fired last year after the New Orleans City Council determined that he had created a hostile environment, including the accusations of unwanted moving, degradation of Lange and intimidation, according to his employees.
But after Johnson, who worked in the city government for 35 years, denied the accusations and appealed his dismissal, a commission last Monday gave the approval seal to avoid it and compensate for the salary he lost during his time.
The Civil Service Commission, essentially a glorified human resources department for the Government, accepted the previous findings that proved to be Johnson’s deficiency, even that it had “participated in cases of inappropriate”, including “” often frequently informed frequently.
However, the quid of his signature is based on the determination of the Har City Council that Johnson could have caused, which the commission believed that it was clearly missing.
According to the commission, Johnson must be reinstalled because “the City Council has not brought its burden that shows that the one who complained of conduct affected the efficient operation of the secretary of the council office.”
Such deterioration is necessary to justify the termination under the rules of the commission, but not specifically what type of decline would justify disciplinary action.
In his report, the Commission also appointed the accused employees who accused Johnson by sharing their full names, until then, the four alleged victims only referenced anonymously.
The president of the City Council, JP Morrell, was horrified by the decision of the commission and flagrant contempt for damaged employees.
“This decision will have a chilling effect on each victim who is considering informing the abuse in the workplace. New Orleans city cannot claim that he worries about the survivors while continuing to overlook on the states of Efficiency.”
In addition, he said that the commission ruling creates a dangerous precedent, according to Nola.com.
“According to the logic of civil service commissions, sexual harassment in the workplace is acceptable, provided that harassment does not affect the general work product.”
However, the Commission greatly dismissed accusations such as being serious enough to guarantee Johnson’s dismissal.
“None of the incidents in question … It was so severe that the termination was appropriate, and in general the driving tension for 10 years was not severe or generalized,” the commission wrote.
Johnson’s lawyer denied the accusations that established that the commission never determined whether the “sporadic contact of his client’s co -workers was intentional or accidental.”
“There was never any sexual harassment in this case,” Brett Prendast said to The Outlet.