‘Required leave’ now only last resort
Deputy Governor Franz Manderson
(CNS): Deputy Governor Franz Manderson has said that civil servants are now only being placed on ‘required leave’ on full pay and benefits as a last resort. As he answered questions during the most recent meeting of the Legislative Assembly about prison officers charged with criminal offences, he revealed that he has directed chief officers to undertake risk assessments before placing public servants charged with crimes on required leave. Manderson said this was due to concerns about government workers being sent home from their jobs, for years in some cases, while still receiving a full salary.
Responding to a question from Alva Suckoo (NEW) about two male prison officers, the deputy governor told the House that one had been charged with rape and he had been suspended from work, but the second officer charged with assault ABH and a threat to kill had not been suspended and remained on duty.
“Members of the House did raise concerns about the number of civil servants who were on required leave for extended periods of time. We took that on board,” he said. “I have instructed chief officers to ensure that suspension from duty on full pay or required leave is taken as a last resort and that appointing officers should look at the risk to the organisation of the person remaining on duty before a decision is taken to put them on required leave.”
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He explained that the officer who remains on duty charged with actual bodily harm is one of only two people certified to train prison officers in control and restraint techniques, which was vital to the performance and safety of officers. He said the case was expected to be heard by the courts shortly and if he is convicted, action would then be taken.
Asked if he had any concerns about an officer charged with a violent offence remaining on the job, the deputy governor said that the prison director had made the decision to keep the officer and he was best placed to make the call that there was no risk to the organisation.
“I am not in a position to second guess that call,” Manderson said.
There are several other civil servants facing criminal charges or are under investigation, he said, but he did not have the numbers. However, going forward, the new policy requires senior officers to make judgment calls on moving people arrested or charged to more suitable duties or assess the risk of leaving them in the job before suspended them completely.
Category: Government Administration, Politics
I like cats
Why is there never “unpaid” leave or suspension? If someone commits murder in broad daylight in front of 10 witnesses, do they still get paid until a jury finds them guilty?
10.53am Yes.
Innocent until proven guilty.
Perhaps you are carrying the criminal law principle too far. Employment is a civil matter.
Only if you work for Government.
Gardening Leave is still the way to go.
The DG got you all in a dizzy. Like he would say “excellent”.
Your head still light after that 5K
Easy problem to fix
1. Grow a pair and dismiss the corrupt prison staff
2. Do not buckle to the pressure from the relatives in high places to let them back
3. Do What is morally right, send a clear message that the values of the civil service will be adhered to.
What message does it send when you have a deputy director who has continued to get away with corrupt practices, and is supported by her boss/ close friend.
This has to stop, we deserve better
Together we are world class. When the private sector and civil service work together no one can do it better. Lets stop the hate.
If you spend all of your time posting negative comments about everything…well all I can is -you are in one sad place.
I applaud the major improvements in our civil service.
Throughout public service, there should be mandatory routine drug testing, including MLAs, all the way up to Speaker Chair. On filing of any criminal charges, or civil offenses of moral turpitude, the automatic HR policy should be immediate removal of that person from regular duty, termination of regular employee contract, and implementation of a new restricted contract whereby if the defendant pleads “not guilty”, then 80% pay and benefits (as if vacation pay), fully refundable to CIG on a “guilty” verdict. Not guilty verdict, a new contract at same level somewhere in civil service. Employees cannot get a free pass to get mixed up in illegal business. Responsible governance dictates that we should be allowed to clawback pay stolen by crooks that falsely plea, otherwise we volunteer to be their subsequent victims with no recourse. Failing to learn, and doing nothing, we perpetuate the lowest ethical and moral standards, and deter no-one from spinning their wheel of chance.
Poor you 11:40 am still drinking let over Koolaid from the DG 5K Run please check the expiration on that powder packet its effecting your speech and writing and brain function, causing you to deluded yourself and trying to delude others to believe one person is responsible for those things occurring you PPm Goat! You forgot in all your delusional praise to mention what and who were or will be sacrificed or destroyed so others can live good because it certainly ain’t benefiting the Caymanian people . What we need is eXtinction uprising right ya Cayman!
Face it folks cayman is successful because of its civil service. The private is great but without the civil service nothing happens.
2.53pm Excuse me but you had a typo, obviously you meant “with” and not “without”.
Maybe going forward, government jobs should be given to the best applicant and not on a who ya for or who ya vote for basis
12:44. That practise is extinct.
Dinosaurs may be extinct, but their close relatives like birds and crocodiles still live on
In Lower Valley
Eric Bush’s career demonstrates otherwise.
Civil service = welfare system
If you live in cayman and is not proud of your Government and civil service you need to have your head examined.
Who do we blame for the surplus budgets?
Who do we blame for the fact that I just licensed my car online?
Who do we blame for our new airport
Who do we blame for rooting out corruption
Who do we blame for 225000 customers pressing the happy button ?
Who do we blame for a magical royal visit
Who do we blame for the setting the gold standard with the CARIFTA games?
Who do we blame for no new fees in 6 years
Who do we blame for the well deserved pay rises in the civil service ?
Who do blame for all of the Caymanians being promoted in the civil service)
I could go on all morning.
Come on folks. Why is it that Cayman is the envy of the world but at home we can’t even give a little credit when it is due.
Emmm how come our schools are failing yet the teachers get a pay rise? Who do we blame?
@11:40 – What makes you think that Cayman is the envy of the world? Our abysmal education system? The rampant corruption in government? The homophobic government that promotes violence against gays? The sexual abuse of children? The fact that owning a home is out of reach for most Caymanians? The garbage dump? The violence?
5,41pm not the world, rather North Korea.
Who do you blame for the high cost of living?
Who do you blame for cheap labor?
Who do you blame for the poor education system?
Who do blame for the miserable traffic problem both morning and evening?
Who do you blame for the increase in serious crimes?
Who do you blame for the garbage collection problem?
Who do you blame for the worst telecommunication problem?
Who do you blame for high cost for medical and property insurance?
Who to blame for the recent gay issue?
Who is to blame for the lack thereof of a national conservation law?
I think you need to take your head out of the sand and wake up cause cayman not for the average Caymanian.
6:41. I blame the private sector for the majority of those problems.
8:41 You know the answer…its the private sector. Hopefully that sector will follow the civil service lead. I think the Government should take over our telcoms. Maybe then we will get reliable service.
gay issue?
We had a customs officer specializing in importing cocaine. We had the head of the Traffic Dept at the RCIPS convicted of causing and then leaving the scene of an accident. We have a prison officer trained in control and restraint techniques charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and threats to kill. This is not an exhaustive list, but just what comes to mind when reading this article.
Only in Cayman.
9:27. You just made the DG’s case for improving accountability and rooting out the bad apples. The customs officer is doing 17 years in prison. The traffic cop is now in the private sector and the prison officer if convicted will be an x prison officer.
Well done DG
10.06am You just have to be a mentally challenged civil servant who can’t be employed anywhere else. What on earth has the DG got to do with this – these individuals were caught by the police and convicted of their crimes. Accountability has a lot to do with efficiently performing the job you are paid to do, and not goofing off spending time on your own private business and never answering calls from the public. In this regard the DG fails miserably as incompetence and failure to perform has become the norm with many civil servants bar a few.
9:27. You forgot the vast crime in the private sector. Let me give a wee sample buddy. We had major thefts at Deloitte and the tennis club. We had security officers commit serious crimes we had private sector doctors taking photos of his patients we had thefts at the pines for Chris sake and you have the nerve to criticize the civil service for routing out corruption. Oh and don’t forget the private sector worker in jail for stealing over a million dollars from her employer.
Both the civil service and the private sector have their bad apples. Both entities seem to be trying to root them out.
Lets stop the blame game.
12.43am You miss the point, it’s the jobs these civil servants held, there are many others. Also you seem as deluded as 10.06am – please explain how the DG was responsible for identifying these wrongdoers.
You might also want to reflect on the Head of Immigration, the Head of the NRA, the Head of the Port Authority, and the Head of Cinico all who have one thing in common, and all of whom were dismissed, and all of whom bar one had the dubious benefit of no explanation being given of their transgressions.
I agree we have bad apples everywhere, but a lot depends on the grade of the apple. In the private sector there is never any conspiracy of silence shielding the guilty.
Say it like it isnt!! You are starting to scare me.
First if no one was getting arrested for corruption you would be blaming our DG. Now that civil servants are getting arrested and being held accountable – the DG is not responsible for this. Wow!!
Also its a pity you dont know that the Port NRA and CINCO are not part of the DG responsibility. Wow
You are so wrong about the private sector openness…I know of at least 10 cases where persons were let go because of wrongdoing and not one word has been said. in fact the cases were not reported to the police because it would embarrass the private sector entities. which of course is their right!!
Wake up Say!!
And none of those private sector wrong doers were paid by the tax payer
Why has it taken 5 decades to decide to give paid leave with full benefits “only as a last resort”. Going forward of course nothing will change as they will all be treated as a “last resort”.
Perhaps Mr Manderson will also stop referring to our “world class civil service” as this is a public embarrassment when you look at the reality.
9:14. Rubbish. The last resort policy has been in place for years. The DG refreshed memories to make a point.
I think that 225000 customers would disagree with your assessment of world class
And by the way. Its a Vision statement! You do know what that is??
In June 2016 there were no less than 31 employees on full paid “administrative leave”…some had been there for over four years because the Minister didn’t like the cut of their jib – later “separated” out of court (with our money) in confidential retirement settlements we aren’t allowed to review. Not much vision at all, it seems.
What are you going to use for “hush money” now?
Maybe now he will get around to sorting out those who are not on required leave but rarely turn up to do a days work whilst still getting paid year on year?
Well what about those that do turn up to their place of work but spend their day putting on make-up and flat ironing their weave in the ladies loo. The loo of all places, it’s ghastly. Most of us rush out as quickly as possible. However for years this female spends a minimum of three hours each morning in the loo to apply layers and layers of make-up and put in weave clip ons then style them. So my dear turning up to work or not turning up to work, is a mere facade.
Caymanians, speaking as one, can be very odd.
2.15pm You will be forever remembered as the first civil servant ever to admit to what actually goes on in the Administration Building. May others follow in your footsteps.
2:15 Coward. Report this to the DG if you didn’t make it up . or use the fraud tip line.
…and those that arrive for another 6 hour shift of “Required Solitaire”
What Franz should say is only reserved for those loyal wrong doers,who remain silent but support his agenda that are waiting on a huge payday when the government can afford it??? You cant charge those who hold the secrets of some people’s success? They might just reveal those very secrets and others too will be successful in reaching those upper echelons of our government! How dare you expose the truth!!!
I think that Franz Manderson is not acting like the real Boss .
7:59. You just exposed one truth. You are jealous of other Caymanians success. I pity you.
Thank you DG. The improvement in the performance of the civil service during your time as DG has been amazing.
I listen to you on the radio a few weeks ago and was so impressed to hear that the Happy or Not results show that 225000 customers pressed the Happy Button and that your staff engagment survey showed 70% of civil servants were engaged and over 75% were proud to be civil servants. These numbers are now the envy of the private sector.
Hopefully the private sector will take the civil service lead and actually focus on customer service and staff engagment. One day my firm will actually understand that throwing a bonus at staff does not necessarily increase staff engagment.
Let the thumbs down begin. But facts are facts.
@7:11 – what alternative universe are you living in? “70% of civil are engaged” – engaged in what?!?! I am a civil servant and I can assure you that while there are excellent civil servants who take pride in their work and try their best to do a good job under less then ideal working conditions, they are the minority not the majority. The biggest problem that the civil service has is not the staff (although some staff certainly do not deserve their jobs) it is the almost complete lack of leadership and the failure of those in charge to take any responsibility and make the changes that are necessary to make the civil service a productive and efficient one.
8:36 I am a proud civil servant. You mean you are a civil servant and didn’t know about the staff survey?
This is best the civil service has been in years. I bet you are one of those civil servants that has been held accountable.
Nope as I do a good job despite daily watching the comings and goings of my fellow colleagues. It is absolutely disgraceful the misuse of the car system, the car parking, the amount of sickness, the time keeping and the sheer entitlement culture I see all around me. On the sickness alone there should be an enquiry charting the sickness levels. How sick is our nation that so many of us are constantly taking time off?
Engaged in their side business.
yeah ..whatever franz…..zzzzzzzzzz