An Illinois state watchdog group has found that a small public university paid dozens of former employees for up to a year after they were told they would be losing their jobs, and while some did little or no work.
That's according to a report in the Chicago Tribune about the work of the governor's office of executive inspector general. Its investigation concluded that Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, paid 33 people full time salaries and benefits after they were terminated. Some had reportedly already begun working elsewhere but still collected money from Governors State.
Governors State University receives state taxpayer money.
According to the Chicago Tribune:
- In one case, a former vice president was given more than a year of notice before his official last day of work. During that time, he told investigators he did not return to campus or do any work “although he said he did submit his timesheets.” That person received $164,337 in salary and benefits.
- A former director said she stopped working the day of her termination notice and only returned to campus to clean out her office. She continued to submit her timesheets but did not do any work. She received $88,169 in salary and benefits.
The inspector general reportedly concluded that some former employees falsified time sheets at the direction of the university.
Governors State University President Elaine Maimon reportedly stated she was unaware of any employees being paid after their termination and did not know about any falsified time sheets.
The governor's office of executive inspector general concluded that the payments were made as part of a mismanaged system. The Governors State University Board of Trustees says it is overhauling its systems in response to the findings.
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