A Leaner, Meaner CCSD Payroll Process Took Only Six Years

"Festering payroll issues" should be renamed "festering hourly employee issues," but as usual our local rag doesn't want to put the responsibility where it belongs. Instead, it joyously reports that after acknowledging six years' worth of problems over sloppy time cards with a 2015 budget disaster three years in, the Charleston County School District has finally put some teeth into the enforcement of hourly employees' pay. Duh.

It's only OPM--that's Other People's Money--so why should we care?

In reality, we know that auditors first complained about the mess six years ago, but how many years did it take to create the culture that " 'was very lax with clocking in, checking in, and supervisors approving leave and time sheets and everything else,'” according to Board member Todd Garrett? 

Hourly employees became highly disgruntled when a more effective system took effect last year.

You mean I have to prove that I actually worked those hours? Shocking!

"In the week of April 15-21, nearly 800 employees and 800 supervisors failed to properly submit time cards. During the week of Nov. 18-24, those numbers were down to 235 employees and 173 supervisors, according to data provided to the board’s Audit and Finance Committee on Dec. 4."

We guarantee that no one has yet lost employment over this disobedience.

"Starting this [month], the district is using a five-strike discipline policy to bring those numbers down to zero. The new policy applies to all hourly employees and their supervisors. For the first two offenses, employees or supervisors who fail to comply with time card approval rules will receive written warning letters. On the third offense, the worker’s pay will be withheld until the next two-week pay period has ended. A fourth offense leads to disciplinary action up to a three-day suspension without pay. A fifth offense results in disciplinary action 'up to and including termination.'”

We're getting tough, oh so tough, now.

How about three strikes and you're out? Works in baseball. Five strikes just doesn't have the same ring to it.