Workplace Issues

Prompted by a whistle-blower's report, State Department investigators found that Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, who heads an agency that oversees most government broadcasts to foreign countries:

- "…Used his office to run a 'horse racing operation'"
- "…Improperly put a friend on the payroll"
- "…Used government employees to perform personal errands"
- "…Billed the government for more days of work than the rules permit"

You have to wonder not only why he was allowed to get away with this abuse of power, but also how he got the job in the first place since he "was ousted last year from another post, at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, after another inquiry found evidence that he had violated rules meant to insulate public television and radio from political influence." But perhaps that's what qualified him.

Where does the money come from that Tomlinson squandered for personal gain? We, the tax payers. One element in the equation that produces bad bosses is that, unlike with entrepreneurs, its not they're money they're overseeing, so they don't care how inefficiently it's used. If you report to a Pilferer Boss and need to know what to do, you can find answers now in Chapter 11 (irony not intended!) of Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Boss? 13 Types and How to Survive Them.

Twenty years ago, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after lift-off, killing it's seven crew members and setting scientific research back for who-knows-how-many-years. (http://www.geektimes.com/michael/culture/memoriam/challengerSpaceShuttle/fiftyOneEll.html)
This disaster was avoidable. Engineers employed at NASA knew one of the components on the shuttle was faulty, but they would have been severely punished for "going public" with information that might have prevented this tragic loss.

Just last month, the Supreme Court ruled that "going public" under circumstances like that is not protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution's right of free speech. This month, the Senate is trying to restore that protection through a new Amendment. This is quite a bold step on the part of our Senators—it's like saying, "Hey, if I do something so bad that the American people will be jeopardized by it, government employees have my permission to go tell the media." What a wonderful example of government by and for the people! Hurray for the Senate!

Now let's hope the our Representatives in the House appreciate the wisdom of this Amendment.