Workplace
Lack of oversight fuels fraud suspicions
Miles Moffeit of The Denver Post used purchasing and accounting records to find that “since 2001, Jefferson County employees have handled millions of dollars in transactions without competitive bidding, close supervision or contracts – and sometimes in conflict with policies.” In one example, the county’s technology manager made $3.7 million in equipment purchases on his…
Read MoreIncentives pay millions, while companies fall short
Mike McAndrew and Michelle Breidenbach of The (Syracuse) Post-Standard report on how New York Governor George Pataki’s administration gives millions of dollars to businesses that promise to hire people, but often don’t. The Post-Standard uses the state’s Freedom of Information Law to obtain financial accounts, as well as records on companies’ penalties. “The newspaper’s review…
Read MoreConfusing stats help mask plant deaths
Lise Olsen of the Houston Chronicle continues the Chronicle’s investigation into the 1995 explosion at the BP oil refinery. Olson used OSHA data to uncover why few deaths had been attributed to refineries in the past. “Increasingly, the accuracy of government safety statistics is undermined by the changing work force. These days, up to half…
Read MoreTop 10 businesses top $1 billion in St. Petersburg
Helen Huntley of the St. Petersburg Times analyzed the cities top 10 companies finding that, for the first time ever, all 10 are more than $1 billion in revenue. “Eight of the 10 increased revenues by double digits last year. Their average return on equity was 20 percent.” The story includes graphics that provide details…
Read MoreLAPD spends millions over overtime budget
Jason Kandel of the Los Angeles Daily News obtained overtime expenditures from the Los Angeles Police Department and used Excel to analyze the data. He found that the LAPD has already overspent their overtime budget by $8 million with two months still remaining in the fiscal year. “The Los Angeles Police Department spent $62.8 million…
Read MoreImmigrant women adapting, are as likely to work as U.S. women
Peggy O’Crowley and Carrie Stetler of The (Newark) Star-Ledger, with assistance from Robert Gebeloff, used Census data to show that “immigrant women, who comprise one of four mothers in New Jersey, are less likely to work outside the home — at least when they first arrive. After 10 years, though, they are as apt to…
Read MorePension abuses hurt employees
Michael L. Diamond, with contributions from Paul D’Ambrosio and Nicholas Clunn, Eileen Smith and Peter Spencer of Gannett New Jersey newspapers reviewed the state’s pension program, finding that “while the private sector has sharply cut pension and health insurance benefits, the state has gone the opposite way. New Jersey’s system features generous payouts to retirees…
Read MoreRestaurant inspections find high number of infractions
Lee Davidson of The Deseret Morning News uses computer assisted-reporting to analyze nearly 10,000 restaurant inspections during 2003 and 2004. The data were obtained through a state open records request. “The analysis shows which restaurants had the most violations per inspection and the fewest, with 25 establishments averaging 13 or more critical violations per inspection,…
Read MoreCounty workers cashing in on overtime
Mickey Ciokajlo and Todd Lighty of the Chicago Tribune used Cook County payroll data to find that “more than 100 county workers were each paid $50,000 or more in overtime last year, with one industrious nurse pulling down $187,500 in extra pay. Oak Forest Hospital nurse Usha Patel, who earned the overtime on top of…
Read MoreState officials hire relatives
Tim Smith of The Greenville News used state records to show that “relatives of two South Carolina Department of Transportation commissioners have been hired at the agency, but the board members said there was nothing improper about their employment.” The two relatives are part-time employees, but one has worked for the agency since 1999 and…
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