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Two workers’ comp arbitrators put on paid leave

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Illinois

* Two workers’ compensation arbitrators who have been the focus of Belleville News-Democrat exposes in recent weeks have been put on paid leave of absences…

“Effective immediately, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission arbitrators John Dibble and Jennifer Teague are on administrative leave,” said Alka Nayyar, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Central Management Services.

Teague and Dibble have been the subjects of recent stories in the Belleville News-Democrat, including those in which Dibble received a workers’ comp settlement for carpal tunnel syndrome and Teague had one pending for cubital tunnel syndrome.

These two were allegedly the most egregious actors. But there’s plenty of suspicion that this is a structural problem over at the commission.

Also, the commission’s chairman has gone mum…

Mitch Weisz, chairman of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, said Tuesday he no longer could answer questions about the matter and referred all questions to Central Management Services, which helps process paperwork in workers’ compensation settlements.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:06 am

Comments

Wonder if the G is involved and that is why everyone has gone silent.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:18 am
Weisz has got to go. They need to wipe the slate clean over there.

Comment by embarrassed Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:20 am
–Also, the commission’s chairman has gone mum…–

Probably a wise move. It would also be wise not to have shredding parties or accidentally destroy any hard drives.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:35 am
- Wonder if the G is involved and that is why everyone has gone silent. -

Yeah, I’m sure the Governor is just now remembering that there was a FOIA request for all of his handwritten notecards between 2007 - 2010. He’s really sweating whether or not the BND going to find the one on which he furiously scribbled “Participate in WC fraud”…

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:35 am
STL - I think G is a reference to the FBI or a federal investigation, not the Governor.

Comment by Stooges Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:41 am
Stooges - Ah, if that’s correct then my mistake. I’m operating under the influence of some serious cold medicine this morning.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:53 am
I’m all for paid leave to protect the worker in the case of malicious and unfounded attacks but, should these employees be fired for ethical or criminal violations, I’d sure hope they’d have to repay what they earned on paid leave in addition to any restitution.

Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:56 am
Nothing like paid vacation time for state employees.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:57 am
By the way, Qinn just appointed Cullerton’s cousin as labor Commissioner at the WC Commission. So I guess everything is kosher between those two regarding appointments.

Comment by embarrassed Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 10:57 am
This “paid leave” thing bother me. In the private sector, they would be fired. Period.

Comment by lakeview Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 11:03 am
==Nothing like paid vacation time for state employees.==
Dear Downstate Illinois, we have this little thing called ‘due process’. This whole scenario stinks but it doesn’t change the fact that allegations need to be proven.

Comment by BCross Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 11:21 am
- This “paid leave” thing bother me. In the private sector, they would be fired. Period. -

I work in the private sector. I’ve witnessed employees caught engaging in improprieties. They were put on paid time off, an investigation followed, then they were fired. This is how things are done everywhere except in your head.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 11:28 am
Actually, DI, there is nothing like giving paid vacation time for crooked state employees. Honest employees earn their vacation time.

Comment by Joe from Joliet Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 11:28 am
Workers Comp. needs to be fixed this is just the tip of the iceberg.Sounds like the G is looking around.

Comment by mokenavince Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 11:47 am
And this all started because Teague is the one who tried to keep the Belleville News-Democrat out of ISP Trooper Matt Mitchell’s (the one who killed 2 teenagers) WC hearing. BND got bent out of shape and FOIA’d all her emails. Ironically, the BND allows no public comments on Mitchell stories based on over-the-top comments in the past…exactly the scenario Teague was doing. Karma, baby…

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 12:19 pm
Small Town Liberal, thanks for the insult! Maybe we just do things differently in the Big City.

Comment by lakeview Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 12:25 pm
I live in Lakeview pal, Roscoe Village to be exact.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 12:30 pm
Well, over here in Lakeview, it’s employment at will, and people can be hired and fired for any non-discriminatory reason. That often means being fired at the merest whiff of a scandal, and I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.

Comment by lakeview Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 1:12 pm
Well Lakeview, since you’re such an “at will” expert, I’m sure you know that if an employer fails to follow their own procedure or policy for termination they can open themselves up to a wrongful termination suit. I’m guessing many large employers, private or public, probably have some procedures related to termination. I’m also guessing some of these may include an investigation into the reason for termination. So, while it may be possible to fire someone at “the merest whiff of a scandal”, it may not always be the most prudent thing to do.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 1:39 pm
Government workers have been held by the courts to have a property interest in their jobs. That means that any government worker is entitled to a due process hearing, or the opportunity to be heard before they are disciplined or terminated. Add to that civil service requirements, and it’s difficult to get rid of government workers.

Comment by Champaign Dweller Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 1:55 pm
As I said, they should get their due process and paid time off until vindicated. But if the result is not vindication but rather getting fired for an ethical or criminal violation, they should have to pay back that leave pay on top of any restitution. Problem solved.

Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, Feb 16, 11 @ 3:54 pm