VSEA Legislative Director Steve Howard Supports Protection of State Employee Whistleblowers
AP reports on VSEA Legislative Director Steve Howard’s (pictured here) testimony last week in support of language to protect the identity of state employee whistleblowers. Read More…
AP reports on VSEA Legislative Director Steve Howard’s (pictured here) testimony last week in support of language to protect the identity of state employee whistleblowers. Equally important, the story talks about one finding from a recent VSEA whistleblower survey that shows many employees fear blowing the whistle because of the "culture of retaliation" that exists today throughout Vermont state government. As expected, the State’s Human Resources Commissioner plays naive, telling lawmakers that she is "shocked and dismayed" to learn that state employees fear retaliation.
VSEA entered the session hoping to help the State Auditor achieve his goal to protect whistleblowers’ identity, but the union is pleased the discussion appears to be moving beyond that to one about why this culture of retaliation is alive and well in Vermont state government. It’s a discussion that is long overdue.