ANOTHER DWS EMPLOYEE CAUGHT SHOPPING AT SAVERS

On March 8, 2016 another DWS van was spotted at the Savers store on Bowman Road in Little Rock.

The driver Glenn B. Sergeant, Sr. was seen walking to and opening the van door. As he was unlocking the door he was asked what official business he was conducting at Saver.  He refused to answer and quickly got into the vehicle.

Sergeant is a workforce investment regulation advisor.

We spoke with the Savers store manager and asked if anyone there had a meeting with anyone from DWS we were told no.  A check with store employees revealed that no one meet with or spoke to anyone from DWS.

When we asked the Department of Workforce Services what official business Sergeant was conducting at Savers, we were told that there were no records or other information to provide information as to why Sergeant was at Savers.

The reason for that response is that Sergeant was not there on official business, he was goofing off and shopping at Savers.

State vehicles are only to be used for official business.

Sergeants personal use of the state vehicle violated the Arkansas state government policy regarding vehicle use and the Governor's Executive Order 10:14.

Personal use of a state vehicle can subject the employee to taxable use of a state vehicle as stated in the State of Arkansas Vehicle Use and Management Handbook, page 20, 15.0 Taxable use of a state vehicle.

CLICK TO VIEW STATE VEHICLE USE POLICY

Sergeant, by using the vehicle for personal use (shopping) damages the reputation of state employees and undermines the public trust in public employees and state government.

DWS WORKERS VIOLATE STATE POLICIES REGARDING PERSONAL USE OF STATE VEHICLES - GIVE BOGUS EXCUSE THEY NEEDED TO GO POTTY

On July 14, 2015 at approximately 2:50 p.m., three Department of Workforce Services employees violated the Arkansas state government policy regarding vehicle use and the Governor's Executive Order 10:14 when they went shopping at Savers on Bowman Road in Little Rock after eating lunch.

State vehicles are to be used for official business only.

Personal use of a state vehicle can subject the employee to taxable use of a state vehicle as stated in the State of Arkansas Vehicle Use and Management Handbook, page 20, 15.0 Taxable use of a state vehicle.

CLICK TO VIEW STATE VEHICLE POLICY

The state van was clearly occupied by three individuals as their to-go-cups were easily observed as were some shopping bags.

FRONT SEAT - DRIVER SIDE

FRONT SEAT - PASSENGER SIDE

BACK SEAT - DRIVER SIDE

BACK SEAT - PASSENGER SIDE

We spoke with the Savers store manager and asked if anyone there had a meeting with anyone from DWS we were told no.  A check with store employees revealed that no one meet with or spoke to anyone from DWS.

According to records obtained from the Department of Finance & Administration and Department of Workforce Services the van occupants stated that they only stopped at Savers to use the restroom. Yeah right. DWS refused to provide the official use, reason or function for which the van was checked out.  Maybe the restroom at the DWS office was out of order and the three had to drive around LIttle Rock for several hours to find a clean restroom to use.

The vehicle was checked out at 10:00 a.m. and returned at 3:40 p.m. (about 40 minutes after they shopped, uhhh.. peed/pooped at Savers).

Who was in the van?  According to the records made available to us, the vehicle was occupied by Stephanie L. Bennett and Brandy M. Abernathy-Barnes and other individual with the last name Allen.

BENNETT SNAPS A SELFIE AT WORK

Bennett is a workforce services specialist, who is not afraid to make her position clear.

Abernathy-Barnes is also a workforce services specialist.

While it would be permissible for a state employee to stop and eat lunch while traveling from one town to another on official business, going shopping and using the vehicle for personal use (shopping) damages the reputation of state employees and undermines the public trust in public employees and state government.