As many as 400 employees will be laid off from the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce in the coming days, sources tell FITS. That’s nearly three times the number of layoffs confirmed by the agency earlier this week.
Of course many of the laid off employees will be able to apply for jobs at the “restructured” agency – although given the agency’s geographic reconfiguration many of these employees will likely face much longer commutes.
“All local office staff is being laid off and can reapply with the agency,” one source tells us of the forthcoming reduction in force, SCDEW’s fourth in the last seven months.
In fact an SCDEW job posting memo obtained exclusively by FITS shows 291 open positions across the state.
Last month FITS exclusively reported on a multimillion dollar deficit at the agency – one of the most poorly managed in S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s cabinet.
Last year SCDEW doled out $54.5 million in “improper claims“ according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). In fact over the last three years the agency has an improper payment rate of 14.7 percent – one of the highest in the nation.
Who’s picking up the tab for this incompetence? South Carolina businesses and taxpayers.
Abraham Turner – Haley’s first choice to lead SCDEW – resigned his post last month in disgrace, and a search is currently underway for his replacement.
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24 comments
Any good employee at SCDEW is (or should be) looking for employment outside the Agency. This will leave a much smaller, poorer paid and ineffective workforce to assist the citizens of South Carolina. There are jobs here in the Upstate and talented people will find them. The positions that are left will be filled at the bottom of the payband and only people that can’t get a job anywhere else will take and keep them. If the Haley uses this position for political patronage again, SCDEW is DOOMED!
The Wagner – Peyser (Employment services side of DEW) should be given to the local Workforce Investment Boards. They are already responsible for running the centers. They know what their area needs. DEW should be regulated to UI, TAA and WIA oversight. This is done all across the country and is very effective.
However, no matter what you offer, you can’t make people use the services.
As for the people remaining, look for NEW and more enthusiastic faces once the smoke clears…
Any good employee at SCDEW is (or should be) looking for employment outside the Agency. This will leave a much smaller, poorer paid and ineffective workforce to assist the citizens of South Carolina. There are jobs here in the Upstate and talented people will find them. The positions that are left will be filled at the bottom of the payband and only people that can’t get a job anywhere else will take and keep them. If the Haley uses this position for political patronage again, SCDEW is DOOMED!
The Wagner – Peyser (Employment services side of DEW) should be given to the local Workforce Investment Boards. They are already responsible for running the centers. They know what their area needs. DEW should be regulated to UI, TAA and WIA oversight. This is done all across the country and is very effective.
However, no matter what you offer, you can’t make people use the services.
As for the people remaining, look for NEW and more enthusiastic faces once the smoke clears…
It just seems strange to me that those employees who are terminated must go back to
the SC Department of Restructuring the Employment Workforce University campus
(also known as the SCREW-U) to ask for help from their previous coworkers – to help them to get a job! ………. thanks so much for helping the little people!
It is clear that you haven’t a clue nor respect for anyone but yourself. Usually the ones complaining about job services are the ones who don’t fully use them…
“thanks so much for helping the little people”
The reference is to the terminated SCDEW employees – sorry! If you have read some of my previous posts you will see that I respect those thousands of state employees who truly care and strive to do the best job possible despite internal politics and/or incompetency. I say this from personal experience.
It just seems strange to me that those employees who are terminated must go back to
the SC Department of Restructuring the Employment Workforce University campus
(also known as the SCREW-U) to ask for help from their previous coworkers – to help them to get a job! ………. thanks so much for helping the little people!
It is clear that you haven’t a clue nor respect for anyone but yourself. Usually the ones complaining about job services are the ones who don’t fully use them…
“thanks so much for helping the little people”
The reference is to the terminated SCDEW employees – sorry! If you have read some of my previous posts you will see that I respect those thousands of state employees who truly care and strive to do the best job possible despite internal politics and/or incompetency. I say this from personal experience.
It’s funny that you think DEW has competent employees. Under educated, back stabbing no skills so no other employment opportunities. Bottom on th barrel. Wonder why dew is overpaying. Start with those decisions & look at the lazy apathetic employees
I would say that about management but not lower staff employees. They are good people.
A little resentful are we??? Having worked for the DEW (actually ESC) and still in workforce development but with another agency, I can tell you that it is easy to become apathetic, because of folks like you (your name fits) and others who want everything done for them. They want a job but don’t want to do the leg work. It is soooo easy to sit back and blame others for your own failures. For the past three years, thanks to Obama, most folks would rather draw that unemployment check than to work. Those who want work find work. Those that don’t write entries to FITSNEWS.
After reading the above three comments, it makes me wish abortion was retroactive!
It’s funny that you think DEW has competent employees. Under educated, back stabbing no skills so no other employment opportunities. Bottom on th barrel. Wonder why dew is overpaying. Start with those decisions & look at the lazy apathetic employees
I would say that about management but not lower staff employees. They are good people.
A little resentful are we??? Having worked for the DEW (actually ESC) and still in workforce development but with another agency, I can tell you that it is easy to become apathetic, because of folks like you (your name fits) and others who want everything done for them. They want a job but don’t want to do the leg work. It is soooo easy to sit back and blame others for your own failures. For the past three years, thanks to Obama, most folks would rather draw that unemployment check than to work. Those who want work find work. Those that don’t write entries to FITSNEWS.
After reading the above three comments, it makes me wish abortion was retroactive!
If DEW sucks so bad, why do you stay? Please take your piss poor attitude to someone who cares. Go get another job!!!
Thank you for finally saying that!! DEW employees clearly are the FITS source. If your job sucks so bad you must use FITS to make yourself feel better, LEAVE!!! Give your notice & get the f@!k out. Oh wait. You can’t because you have no education & are lazy, whining, bad attitude employees. Couldn’t be hired anywhere else. There are great employees & managers at DEW. There are also HORRIBLE employees & managers at DEW. Just like any other agency.
If DEW sucks so bad, why do you stay? Please take your piss poor attitude to someone who cares. Go get another job!!!
Thank you for finally saying that!! DEW employees clearly are the FITS source. If your job sucks so bad you must use FITS to make yourself feel better, LEAVE!!! Give your notice & get the f@!k out. Oh wait. You can’t because you have no education & are lazy, whining, bad attitude employees. Couldn’t be hired anywhere else. There are great employees & managers at DEW. There are also HORRIBLE employees & managers at DEW. Just like any other agency.
Word around DEW is that 75% of the staff are getting laid-off and anywhere from 85 to 90% of the SC Works centers in the 12 regions are closing. In my region they are going from 12 centers to 2. Most of the 12 regions will have only one centralized center for folks to get services and will be minimally staffed for folks to be access to WIA, TAA and Wagner-Peyser services. WIA is affected by the lay off too and has cut staff as well.
Trust me, I know.
Word around DEW is that 75% of the staff are getting laid-off and anywhere from 85 to 90% of the SC Works centers in the 12 regions are closing. In my region they are going from 12 centers to 2. Most of the 12 regions will have only one centralized center for folks to get services and will be minimally staffed for folks to be access to WIA, TAA and Wagner-Peyser services. WIA is affected by the lay off too and has cut staff as well.
Trust me, I know.