Naperville officials are investigating a complaint by a former city employee against Human Resources Department leaders after allegedly witnessing employees being bullied, derogatory language being use and drugs being taken at work conferences.
One of the leaders of the Human Resources Department named in the complaint has resigned, said Communications Manager Linda LaCloche. The other has been reassigned, City Manager Doug Krieger said Thursday. He said the reassignment is unrelated to the complaint.
The former employee detailed grievances in a three-page letter to the mayor and City Council dated May 2, which the person noted was the day he or she was resigning. It was obtained by the Tribune through a Freedom of Information request.
“It is an incredibly disrespectful work environment where meanness, cliques, favoritism … and a focus on ladder climbing rather than servant leadership are rewarded,” the letter reads.
The city redacted the name of the employee who made the complaint and noted the allegations “have not been substantiated” and if made public “will harm the reputation of the employees against whom they are made.” The Tribune is not naming the Human Resources Department leaders in this case because no formal action has been taken.
The complaint alleges “a string of appalling excuses for HR leadership” over eight years including name calling, smoking marijuana at conferences, bullying a co-worker who the complainant said eventually committed suicide and saying there were no promotional opportunities for women. It does not specify which leaders were responsible for those actions.
The complaint goes on to name two department leaders and accuse them of “inappropriate commentary which is degrading to women and minorities.” It cites as examples comments allegedly made about preferring to work with “pretty girls,” choosing vendors with male representatives, sexual references and suggestions about the former employee losing weight.
The former employee also accused another city leader outside of the department of making “racially offensive comments.”
The complaint alleges that Krieger failed to act when some of the issues were reported, which Krieger denied. He said Thursday the city has launched an investigation, part of which is being done internally and part of which is being handled externally. Attorney Terry Ekl has been hired to conduct that investigation. The city set a cap of $5,000.
“When I became aware of the allegations I thought they were very very serious, took immediate action to start investigations so that we can get resolution on all of them,” he said. “Respectful workplace is very important here at the city of Naperville.”
Deputy City Manager Marcie Schatz will now oversee the Human Resources Department on an interim basis, a move Krieger said was not directly tied to the complaint.
“The move was made to provide a higher level of oversight from the city manager’s office over the HR function,” he said.
He said he expects the investigation to wrap up in the next two weeks.
