Workplace was 'toxic,' ex-manager says
A former Department of Highways and Public Works employee is threatening a potentially damaging lawsuit against the Yukon government, alleging he was terminated without just cause six months into a year-long contract.
A former Department of Highways and Public Works employee is threatening a potentially damaging lawsuit against the Yukon government, alleging he was terminated without just cause six months into a year-long contract.
Energy specialist Phil Thompson, hired in April 2008 to increase the overall energy efficiency of government buildings, was let go in October of last year.
But Thompson's breach of contract allegation pales in comparison to circumstances surrounding his termination.
This morning, he told the Star that expressing displeasure over racist and sexist remarks made in the workplace is the real reason he was fired - not for poor performance, as government officials had conveyed to him.
"I really won't get any benefit from (suing), and now that I'm viewed as a whistle blower, I may never be able to get a job in this government again, but I may be able to do some good," said Thompson.
In addition to $35,000 in wages Thompson said he is owed, shining light on what he calls a toxic work environment and improving it for others would be the goal of any court action.
"I spoke out against these issues. If somebody makes racist comments about native trades people, I don't have to listen to that s--- at work," Thompson said, adding inappropriate sexual remarks were also pervasive.
"I don't care what anybody thinks in the privacy of their own home, but you can't say (these things) at work."
If Thompson goes ahead with his suit, the government would face claims of character defamation, professional libel, breach of contract and workplace harassment.
Thompson called his six months as energy manager with the Department of Highways and Public Works frustrating.
They included physical threats to his person, racial slurs against natives and inappropriate sexual remarks, he said.
While he said only a few people were responsible, "Others are afraid to say anything because such behaviour appears to be tolerated by some in senior management."
The Star's attempts to get comment from the Department of Highways and Public Works' deputy minister or Minister Archie Lang were forwarded to the Public Service Commission.
Liz McKee, the director of communications for the commission, told the Star nobody there could comment before press time this afternoon.
However, Thompson's employee performance evaluation comprises a litany of poor performance instances that Thompson denies.
"I did the same job in the Northwest Territories for 5 1/2 years (1989 to 1994), won awards for it and received an excellent reference from my deputy minister there," said Thompson.
To date, the government has paid $15,000 to Thompson for relocation expenses to Whitehorse from Nova Scotia.
However, Thompson said he is owed the balance of his $70,000 annual salary.
Comments (12)
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Name With Held on Jan 14, 2009 at 2:15 pm
the comment on Jan. 11th about "knowing where to find the job description". He / she sounds like one of those appointed-without-qualifications employees. I'm also a public servant and work hard at what I do but I am not willing to put up with the smell and I assume bad taste of "where I can find that job description". I note that the majority of the comments to date also state the toxic environment.
Name witheld too please!
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Name witheld 2 on Jan 13, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I didn't know there were so many ways to spell witheld.
This thread is sad testament to the fast failing morale in this department. What with all the connections to government and union at play, how can a person just do a regular, good job. Toxic environments are not generated by good people....just toxic people.....and the whole department is not likely full of toxic people, but is more likely staffed with many good people being affected by a few toxics.
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The origional 'Name Withheld' on Jan 12, 2009 at 12:57 pm
"Name also Withheld
Jan 11, 2009 at 11:12 am
I find it interesting that a YTG employee is commenting at 11:12 morning on a Friday. Maybe your track record isn't as good as you think�"
Rather interesting (ironic) that you are also commenting at 11:12 AM. I guess we should assume you are an unemployed bum.
You know, it isn't beyond the pale that an HPW worker is on shift work, holidays or any reason that would allow them to post at that time. Government workers are, in fact allowed casual use of the internet, phone etc in fact the main government page links directly to this paper. So, care to explain why you're post here when you should be working?
Yeah. I thought not.
Also of note is that many workers (in this thread alone) are working in a culture of fear and feel the need to be anonomous. I guess that SA cheque you're pulling is the real gravy train eh?
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Name also Withheld on Jan 11, 2009 at 6:12 am
I find it interesting that a YTG employee is commenting at 11:12 morning on a Friday. Maybe your track record isn't as good as you think...
There isn't such a thing as appointed-without-qualifications (there are qualifications in any job and they are stated in the job description) so I'm not sure where you get your information from but maybe you should put the energy you've put into your comment to be better informed in the hiring process and knowing where to find job qualifications.
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Name with held like the others on Jan 9, 2009 at 1:10 pm
If the right personality isn't hired, things easily get out of control. That department has never been able to just do its job because there's always someone elected or in the union who has a strong but chameleon-like opinion of what that job is. There's so much interference that the right personality is one of the few things that can keep a person afloat. The point is, its not a normal and fair work environment, and never can be with all the interference from union and politician alike.
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Name with held on Jan 9, 2009 at 6:12 am
As a long-time Highways & Public Works employee with an excellent work-related track record, I can confirm that it is an extremely toxic work environment, especially in the Transportation Maintenance Branch.
Very few managers have any type of work-related qualifications other than a suitable personality, let alone integrity.
When a qualified worker performs his/her duties much better than any of the appointed-without-qualifications employees, "managers" will do anything to get rid of that worker.
Hard work and reliability often result in harassment and personal attacks while incompetence is rewarded with promotions.
The hiring and competition process is specifically designed to reward people with a suitable personality while discriminating against those who would do extremely well in a normal and fair work environment.
I request that my name be witheld as I will certainly face more personal attacks from the employer for speaking out.
Thank you
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LP on Jan 8, 2009 at 11:11 am
Hmmm... was it a contract or was he an employee? If he was an employee and was in fact incompetent, it was right and proper to fire him during the six month probation period. If he was on contract, and the contract was breached, that's a different story.
Given that the last time Mr. did the job was 14 years ago, why would anyone automatically assume he was still competent at it. Why choose instead to believe that an entire department is so far back in the dark ages?
This whole story sounds a little like sour grapes... sad that you and I paid $15k to bring this to our doorstep from Nova Scotia.
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Name respectfully withheld on Jan 7, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I wish I could see the other side of the story in more detail as well as the specific racial and sexual comments made, name(s) of the people who allegedly made these comments.
However, based on life experience and general rules of probability this may have taken place- If so, shameful!
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Name Withheld too on Jan 6, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Sorry to hear your story, but it sounds like others of late in that department. There is so much at stake (money) and so many people who want to control or win the stakes (government 'friends') that doing a good job is not good enough. You have to do the 'right job', fit the mold, toe the line, be one of the 'in group', show fear of the union as well as the politicians, and be quiet.
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Michel Dupont on Jan 6, 2009 at 9:29 am
Good luck Mr. Thompson...
The following offers no excuses for the behaviour of the Department's employees. We all know it doesn't take a university degree to work for that specific department. These employees are not screened for literacy, so give them a break, they don't know any better and we need them desparatly. In the Yukon, we deliberatly accept this fact and deal with these shortcomings everyday in all aspects of employement.
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Name Withheld on Jan 5, 2009 at 2:37 pm
He was only there six months and he had an employee review? Sounds like a rail road job to me.
I've been in YTG (HPW also) for 13 years and have only had 2 done. The first one after 5 years and I had to request it.
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John Lome on Jan 5, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Remember the name John LOME. He(I), went through similar poop a few years ago.
You have to agree with the local losers, like a certain engineer, and make him(them) look good despite their incompetence.
Good luck guy, they infected me with an incurable disease, sent the CRA after my specialists and expect they and their spawn are going to live extended, healthy lives. Not so.
Get out of the Yukon, while you can. Leave it to the Law(lie)ers.
John