Report 2016-2017

Case

CSC's Office of Internal Disclosure (OID) completed an investigation under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA), following the receipt of allegations that a Correctional Officer was committing inappropriate acts in the workplace, and using language that was inappropriate, vulgar and/or abusive. The employee`s manager was also investigated to determine if wrongdoing had been committed by his/her inaction.

Findings

A thorough investigation was completed in order to establish the veracity of the allegations. Based on the findings of the Board of Investigation, the Senior Officer for Disclosure determined that the Correctional Officer had committed the following wrongdoings under the PSDPA:

AN ACT OR OMISSION THAT CREATED A SUBSTANTIAL AND SPECIFIC DANGER TO THE LIFE, HEALTH OR SAFETY OF PERSONS, OR TO THE ENVIRONMENT, OTHER THAN A DANGER THAT IS INHERENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DUTIES OR FUNCTIONS OF A PUBLIC SERVANT – section 8(d) of the PSDPA

More specifically, the Correctional Officer endangered the safety of another employee by directing the employee to install electronic equipment in an unsafe and unauthorized area in the workplace, without the knowledge or consent of management.

SERIOUS BREACH OF A CODE OF CONDUCT – section 8(e) of the PSDPA

In addition, the Correctional Officer was found to have intentionally committed repeated vulgar and inappropriate acts and activities in the workplace over a significant period of time. This behavior amounted to a serious breach of Standard Two of CSC's Standards of Professional Conduct. It also amounted to a serious breach of the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector.

With the regards to the manager, the Senior Officer concluded that no wrongdoing had been committed.

Recommendations

The Senior Officer for Disclosure presented five recommendations addressing, amongst others, the convening of a disciplinary hearing and a re-evaluation of the capability of the Correctional Officer to resume his/her functions. These recommendations have been approved by the Commissioner of Corrections and are in the process of being implemented.