WORKIN’ HARD? OR HARDLY WORKIN’?
Meet Tommy Ellis …
He’s a fraud investigator for the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW). In fact he’s one of two deputy fraud investigators who works out of the agency’s Charleston, S.C. office.
Or at least he used to work out of the agency’s Charleston office … (more on that in a moment).
First, a quick primer. For those of you unfamiliar with SCDEW, it is quite possibly the most incompetent agency in all of state government. According to federal statistics, one out of every five dollars in unemployment benefits doled out by SCDEW is awarded erroneously – the eighth-highest percentage in the nation. In other words there’s a lot of fraud … but not a lot of investigating.
If Ellis’ “work” is any indication, we may know why …
According to Ellis’ colleagues in Charleston, he was “constantly” out of his office – but was never called to account for his chronic absences because his supervisor was based out of SCDEW’s main office in Columbia, S.C. Due to a steady stream of internal complaints, though, things eventually came to a head – although Ellis wasn’t required by his supervisors to start showing up for work. Instead, sources at SCDEW tell FITS that he was “approved to work from home for an indefinate period.” Not only that he was provided with a state-issued cell phone.
Pretty nice, huh?
Ready for the kicker?
“Just recently, in the same office, a severely handicapped woman had to have major reconstructive surgery and major physical rehabilitation to learn how to walk again,” one of our sources reveals. “She was forced to use all her sick and annual leave and wasn’t given the opportunity to work from home.”
Why was Ellis given preferential treatment? We’re not sure … but his colleagues clearly don’t appreciate it. And neither should taxpayers.
SCDEW’s chief of staff and top unemployment insurance bureaucrat both resigned from the agency last month for unknown reasons, although some believe their decision to step down had something to do with a $9 million accounting error uncovered by FITS.
In April another top SCDEW staffer, Nicholas Anderson, resigned his post abruptly after just six months at the agency. Anderson’s resignation came as FITS was following up on a scathing audit of the agency with an exclusive new report highlighting additional waste and duplication.
How have the agency’s leaders gone about “addressing” these issues? With taxpayer-funded golf … and sunshine. Hell … they took another glorified vacation over the long Thanksgiving weekend.
Frankly, it is past time that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – who is charge of SCDEW – fire this agency’s director.
SCDEW is an increasingly costly joke … with the ever-escalating tab being passed on to Palmetto State businesses and taxpayers.
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33 comments
Not throwing stones, just pointing out it should be “indefinite”.
Anyway,I just noticed this write up yet it says it was posted yesterday but wasn’t in your front page screen rotation…might wanna put it there for some traffic.
My guess is that when you have the caloric intake requirements that Mr. Ellis appears to need that it’s probably pretty hard to come into work and get anything done with a small all you can eat buffet surrounding your desk.
I’m sure he’s more productive at home, on his couch, with his coffee table loaded up with Chinese take out and no need to change into work clothes before starting his work day.
The good general is just maximizing his agency’s productivity from that perspective.
Poor fish!!!!
….. could it be that he has bad BO? … smells too “fishy”
“Just recently, in the same office, a severely handicapped woman had to have major reconstructive surgery and major physical rehabilitation to learn how to walk again,” one of our sources reveals. ”She was forced to use all her sick and annual leave and wasn’t given the opportunity to work from home.”
That is heartbreaking. Who is the manager in charge that made these cruel unconscionable decisions? Put their name up! I hope she sues for this unfairness. ADA is just a phone call away. Nothing like your job treating you like dirt to ease what must be a hard and painful recovery. So she has to go without money while this lazy fat ass gets to stay home? What condition does he have that he is allowed to work from home? Obesity?
….. probably stress?
You gonna eat that fish?
Yea…who am I kidding?
It’s already in his belly.
Darryl Jackson and the remainder of the Richland County delegation are working out a deal now to get Lillian McBride as the new agency director – provided they can get the money up to meet her salary demands.
…. fact or fiction? – do I need to call Myth Busters?
Wonder how many tubes of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste it would take to get that fish up his ass.
I’m jealous…looks like someone enjoys catching sharks as much as I do…I doubt he knows how to fry ’em up like we do…makes the mouth water…
I’m sorry to bother you but I don’t get out that much.
Which one in the picture is the shark?
I have to ask, why was Tommy Ellis the only person singled out in this article? He doesn’t have a monopoly on this type of behavior…the Field Supervisors, Field Deputies, MSFW Program Workers (Migrant Seasonal Farmworker)and most others who’s positions allow them the opportunity to work outside of an office should be included in this article as they too have been known to exhibit the same behavior. Too much freedom and little to no accountability….this is nothing new.
Why just him? Probably because disgruntled state workers dropped Willie a tip on this one.
ESC (Halley) – SCDEW (Turner); nothing has changed, I know – I worked there.
If true, this guy and whoever approved that shit needs to be shitcanned immediately.
There are ALOT of disgruntled SCDEW employees and many more in the positions listed above need to be called out as well. That agency is a joke….I’m sure that there are some really good, honest, hard working people working for that agency but it appears more and more difficult to find just one. I hope that Tommy Ellis decides to tell all he knows and I guarantee you, he knows ALOT! Geez, what’s next with that place?!
“Which one in the picture is the shark?”
…. the one wearing sunglasses?
Smirks, if they fire this guy, then they’ll set the next lardass up to get outed and fired. The whole agency will turn on itself with all the lardasses trying to turn in their buddies before their buddies turn them in.
It would be like musical chairs, but with shitheads all trying to be the shithead who gets away with it when they get down to the last chair.
It would be madness. We can’t have the truth coming out like that.
Are you crazy?
We don’t tell the truth around here. We protect shitheads. We preserve lardasses.
We make it possible for people to fish on the clock. Fucking A it is a goddamn great motherfucking day in shiteating South cocksucking Carolina.
Stop trying to make things right around here.
There will always be slobs who “milk” the system. Fire him and start looking for the next slob in line.
THAT IS VERY SWEET COMING FROM POT SMOKER..LMAO
To be honest…This makes me very frustrated.
I’m actually blessed to have a job now. However, when I was unemployed I would dread going to this establishment. Even though the media is portraying this establishment to be horrible…there are a few good workers there such as Karen and Sherry (Excellent workers). These workers show outstanding customer service to me every time I was there. It is a shame that the good eggs will have to suffer with the bad eggs. I would never wish unemployment on anyone especially after dealing with this issue myself. However, I know if you don’t display strong work ethic you hurt the company in the long run. So something needs to be done. I just hope the company handles this situation correctly.
Gerald
This does not surprise me because the agency leader, Gen. Abraham Turner, is not even qualified to do his job. He is a Uncle Tom who is destined to be the fall-guy for his master “Slick” Nikki. He was appointed to that position without any qualifications that met the job description. Tommy is only doing this because the incompentent leader allowed for this to happen and they both should be investigated for their fraudulent activities. Tommy should be fired and Turner should be tested for his position since he is qualified to do every job except the one that he currently holding and then fired because everyone in the agency would see that he can’t pass a test (even if he made it up). This agency is in so much debt that they are resulting in firing individuals who are taking a test to prove that they are qualified for their job, even after years of loyal service and the job description did not call for it. Turner is setting the rules but is not following them very well since he could not even pass the same test that he is forcing his employees to take…..INCOMPENTENT!!!!!!
PLEASE LET ME SAY MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PUT THEIR TWO CENTS WORTH ON THIS PAGE HAVENT A CLUE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. THIS GUY IS PROBABLY ONE OF OR THE NICEST GUYS IN THE WORTHLESS AGENCY IN THE STATE. I WORKED WITH TOMMY FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, HE IS AN GREAT DAD AND HUSBAND. NEVER HAD AN OFF WORK RELATIONSHIP BUT KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW THIS IS A WITCH HUNT TO TAKE THE REAL FOCUS OFF THE PROBLEMS AT DEW. ONE OF THE GOOD OLE BOYS AT DEW PURCHASED TWO AIRLINE TICKETS TO AN OUT OF STATE CONFERENCE, BOTH ROUND TRIPS ONE FROM COLUMBIA AND BACK THEN THE SECOND FROM ATLANTA GA BACK TO COLUMBIA, SO HE COULD MEET A LADY HE MET ON THE INTERNET . AFTER MISSING THAT FLIGHT DROVE HIS PERSONEL CAR THEN CLAIMED MILEAGE FOR ROUND TRIP.AND THIS IS THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO BOOT. THE INTERNAL AUDIT DIVISION CANT DO ITS JOB IN FEAR OF LOSING THEIR JOBS. GETTING BACK TO TOMMY ELLIS HE IS ONLY FEATURED BECAUSE OF A MOLE TRYING TO PUT A FEATHER IN HIS/HER OWN CAP. BUT THAT IS WHAT IT HAS BECOME TO SAVE YOUR OWN JOB. ITS NOW AT THE POINT THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE AT DEW WILL THROW THEIR
OWN MOTHER UNDER THE BUS. INSTEAD OF JUMPING ON ONE GUY, YOU PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT ALL THE MIS-SPENDING OF MONIES LIKE TANKLESS HOT WATER HEATERS THAT HAVE BEEN SEATING IN A WAREHOUSE FOR YEARS CAUSE THE INSTALLTION IS TO MUCH TO INSTALL. WRAPPING OF AGENCY CARS AT A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WITH 80,000 MILES OR BETTER SOME OVER 100,00O MILES THEN HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE SOMEONE COME WAS THEM BECAUSE THEY CANT GO THRU A CAR WASH. CHECK ON ALL THE FLAT SCREEN TV.S THAT HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FOR THE NEW BIG BOYS. NEW CARS FOR THE NEW BOYS? THEY SHOULD BE ABOUT OUT OF MONEY. WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING NEW CARS WATCHING FLAT SCREEN TV.S AT WORK THEIR ARE SOUTH CAROLINA CITIZENS TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND HAVE SOME WHAT OF A NICE CHRISTMAS FOR THEIR FAMILIES. DOES THE BIG BOYS AT DEW CARE? NOT A CHANCE JUST AS LONG AS THEY RIDE IN STYLE AND WATCH TV 7.5 HOURS A DAY.ITS SO BAD THAT EVEN THE ONES THAT CAME WITH THIS GROUP HAVE SEEN WHATS GOING ON AND HAVE JUMP BOAT. ITS SAD MORE SAD THAN MOST OF YOU WILL EVER KNOW.
Pot, you won’t have to look far. Just look at the next person.
ONE LAST THING YOU GUYS SHOULD KNOW, THESE GUYS WORK MANY HOURS AFTER THE NORMAL 8:30 TO 5:00 PM. THEY WORK ALOT OF NIGHTS 9-10-11 OCLOCK AT NIGHT. THEIR SUPERVISOR LETS THEM TAKE THE HOURS OFF WHEN ITS BEST FOR THEM AND EMPLOYERS IN VIEW OF NOT PAYING THEM OVERTIME. ITS A SHAME YOU JUMP ON ONE GUY LIKE YOU DID NOT KNOWING THE FACTS . YOU PEOPLE HAVE NOW TARNISHED THE PEOPLE,S VIEW OF THIS BLOG. WHAT A SHAME TO GO THIS PERSONAL. HOPE ALL YOU IDIOTS SLEEP WELL TONIGHT. MIGHT BE ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS ARE FAMILY NEXT WEEK YOU BITE. WITH THAT BEING SAID THE SCDEW IS STILL A JOKE BUT YOU JUMP ON THE WRONG BANDWAGON.
Hey Ernie, dat you?
You caught me goyournumber!!! If i am the Ernie you are looking for!!!!!
CSMATTDILON IT APPEARS SOMEONE HAS A PROBLEM WITH YOU ON HERE? IF I CAN BE OF ANY HELP I WILL BE YOUR HUCKLEBERRY. BUT IT SEEMS IF HE/SHE GOT YOUR NUMBER HE/SHE WOULD CALL YOU. I THINK THEY THINK I AM YOU? WHAT A MORON.LOL HAD YOU NOT RESPONDED I WOULD BE THE ERNIE AND MY REAL NAME IS BURT. SO LETS SEE IF WE CAN CHANGE I NAMES TO BURT AND ERNIE SR AND JR. LAMO
Thanks for the article. It was really insightful. It was the first time I’ve heard of such news and I am looking into it.
THE OFFICE IN CLINTON SC HAS ANOTHER STATE TAX DOLLAR SUCKER WORKING FOR THEM. “HE” CONSTANTLY GOES ACROSS THE STREET TO THE HICKORY POINT OR ACROSS THE STREET TO THE DOLLAR GENERAL…..HE HUFFS AND PUFFS WHEN HE DOES HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE PUBLIC. I WISH THEY WOULD FIRE HIM AND I MAY CONTACT MY SENATOR AND OFFICIALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS INABILITY TO STAY IN THE OFFICE TOO.
I ASKED SOME OF THE ACTUAL WORKERS IN THAT OFFICE WHAT DOES THIS GUY DO AND THEY SAID “HE IS IN A WORLD OF HIS OWN MAKING” WHICH POINTS TO ANOTHER BUREAUCRAT THAT IS SUCKING THE CLOCK TO MAKE HIS TIME AND GET THOSE STATE BENEFITS. IT MAY BE THE START OF SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY HAVE CUT THE STAFF IN THAT OFFICE AND THEY CANNOT HELP ANYONE DO ANYTHING.
WE NEED AS A STATE TO BAN TOGETHER AND VOTE HALEY OUT OF OFFICE. I FOR ON WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS SO CALLED GOVERNOR THAT RIDES THE
RELIGIOUS FENCE WORSHIPING IN A METHODIST CHURCH WHILE OBSERVING
THE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS OF HER PREVIOUS RELIGION…..THE BIBLE CALLS THAT IDOLATRY….BUT THIS WILL BE DISMISSED IF SHE EVER READS IT BECAUSE SHE IS SO SOPHISTICATED AND POLITICALLY CONNECTED…..
SHE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT BEING TRANSPARENT AS SHE SAID HER GOVERNMENT WOULD BE BUT SHE IS CONSTANTLY PULLING THE CURTAIN SO NO ONE CAN SEE WHAT SHE IS ACTUALLY DOING….WE WENT FROM ONE GOVERNOR THAT TOOK A “VACATION TO HIKE” SEEING HIS LOVER, VANISHING FOR SEVERAL DAYS,,,,TO A GOVERNOR THAT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA,,,,JUST GETTING HER CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE METHODIST CHURCH AND IN HER ORIGINAL RELIGION……SO THEY WILL SUPPORT HER..
I FOR ONE WILL NOT SUPPORT A GOVERNOR THAT HAS PULLED US INTO A PIT AND IS NOT HELPING TO GET US OUT.
THE OFFICE IN CLINTON SC HAS ANOTHER STATE TAX DOLLAR SUCKER WORKING FOR THEM. “HE” CONSTANTLY GOES ACROSS THE STREET TO THE HICKORY POINT OR ACROSS THE STREET TO THE DOLLAR GENERAL…..HE HUFFS AND PUFFS WHEN HE DOES HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE PUBLIC. I WISH THEY WOULD FIRE HIM AND I MAY CONTACT MY SENATOR AND OFFICIALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT HIS INABILITY TO STAY IN THE OFFICE TOO.
I ASKED SOME OF THE ACTUAL WORKERS IN THAT OFFICE WHAT DOES THIS GUY DO AND THEY SAID “HE IS IN A WORLD OF HIS OWN MAKING” WHICH POINTS TO ANOTHER BUREAUCRAT THAT IS SUCKING THE CLOCK TO MAKE HIS TIME AND GET THOSE STATE BENEFITS. IT MAY BE THE START OF SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY HAVE CUT THE STAFF IN THAT OFFICE AND THEY CANNOT HELP ANYONE DO ANYTHING.
WE NEED AS A STATE TO BAN TOGETHER AND VOTE HALEY OUT OF OFFICE. I FOR ON WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THIS SO CALLED GOVERNOR THAT RIDES THE
RELIGIOUS FENCE WORSHIPING IN A METHODIST CHURCH WHILE OBSERVING
THE RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS OF HER PREVIOUS RELIGION…..THE BIBLE CALLS THAT IDOLATRY….BUT THIS WILL BE DISMISSED IF SHE EVER READS IT BECAUSE SHE IS SO SOPHISTICATED AND POLITICALLY CONNECTED…..
SHE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT BEING TRANSPARENT AS SHE SAID HER GOVERNMENT WOULD BE BUT SHE IS CONSTANTLY PULLING THE CURTAIN SO NO ONE CAN SEE WHAT SHE IS ACTUALLY DOING….WE WENT FROM ONE GOVERNOR THAT TOOK A “VACATION TO HIKE” SEEING HIS LOVER, VANISHING FOR SEVERAL DAYS,,,,TO A GOVERNOR THAT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA,,,,JUST GETTING HER CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE METHODIST CHURCH AND IN HER ORIGINAL RELIGION……SO THEY WILL SUPPORT HER..
I FOR ONE WILL NOT SUPPORT A GOVERNOR THAT HAS PULLED US INTO A PIT AND IS NOT HELPING TO GET US OUT.
I READ THE STATEMENT OF “THEONEWHOKNOWS” AND TELL ME WHY IN THE HELL ARE THEY WORKING AT 9, 10, 11 OCLOCK AT NIGHT WHEN THE BUSINESS OF THE SCDEW IS FROM 8 TO 5 WHEN THE PUBLIC AND EMPLOYERS NEED THEM IN THE OFFICE. THIS SO CALLED “THEONEWHOKNOWS” IS DIGGING A HOLE TO JUMP IN WHEN HE ADMITS THEY ARE OUT OF THE OFFICE AND THEIR MANAGER IS LETTING THEM WORK WHEN THEY WANT TOO. THAT IS SUCKING THE TAX DOLLARS OUT OF OUR POCKETS. WHAT IN THE HELL CAN THEY DO AT 10 OCLOCK AT NIGHT THAT IS HELPING THE PUBLIC OR THE EMPLOYERS. A HUGE “NOTHING” IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING..;…AND ANOTHER POINT IS THAT THEY TAKE THESE JOBS KNOWING THAT THEY WILL NOT BE PAID OVERTIME SO WHEY DONT THEY KEEP THEIR ASSES IN THE OFFICE DURING PEEK BUSINESS TIMES SO THEY CAN HELP THE STATE……IT IS THIS GOOD OLE BOY MENTALITY THAT S.C. HAS IN POLITICS AND IN GOVERNMENT JOBS. YOU SCRATCH MY BACK AND I WILL SCRATCH YOURS.
YOU DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING, IF YOU DID YOU WOULD BE MORE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PUT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO READ.
MOST GOVERNMENT WORKERS ARE A JOKE ANYWAY,,,,,THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC.
KEEP THE NEWS FLOWING SO WE CAN KNOW MORE “MR. OR MS. THEONEWHOKNOWS…..KEEP IT FLOWING SO WE CAN KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN SC GOVERNMENT…..
I READ THE STATEMENT OF “THEONEWHOKNOWS” AND TELL ME WHY IN THE HELL ARE THEY WORKING AT 9, 10, 11 OCLOCK AT NIGHT WHEN THE BUSINESS OF THE SCDEW IS FROM 8 TO 5 WHEN THE PUBLIC AND EMPLOYERS NEED THEM IN THE OFFICE. THIS SO CALLED “THEONEWHOKNOWS” IS DIGGING A HOLE TO JUMP IN WHEN HE ADMITS THEY ARE OUT OF THE OFFICE AND THEIR MANAGER IS LETTING THEM WORK WHEN THEY WANT TOO. THAT IS SUCKING THE TAX DOLLARS OUT OF OUR POCKETS. WHAT IN THE HELL CAN THEY DO AT 10 OCLOCK AT NIGHT THAT IS HELPING THE PUBLIC OR THE EMPLOYERS. A HUGE “NOTHING” IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING..;…AND ANOTHER POINT IS THAT THEY TAKE THESE JOBS KNOWING THAT THEY WILL NOT BE PAID OVERTIME SO WHEY DONT THEY KEEP THEIR ASSES IN THE OFFICE DURING PEEK BUSINESS TIMES SO THEY CAN HELP THE STATE……IT IS THIS GOOD OLE BOY MENTALITY THAT S.C. HAS IN POLITICS AND IN GOVERNMENT JOBS. YOU SCRATCH MY BACK AND I WILL SCRATCH YOURS.
YOU DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING, IF YOU DID YOU WOULD BE MORE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PUT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO READ.
MOST GOVERNMENT WORKERS ARE A JOKE ANYWAY,,,,,THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC.
KEEP THE NEWS FLOWING SO WE CAN KNOW MORE “MR. OR MS. THEONEWHOKNOWS…..KEEP IT FLOWING SO WE CAN KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN SC GOVERNMENT…..