NEW YORK — Husband and wife conductors on the Long Island Railroad received more than $3,400 in pay for not working by clocking in for each other over a period of months, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Office of Inspector General has determined in an investigation.
In a report given to the LIRR in April but released on Thursday, the Inspector General’s office said its surveillance confirmed a tip from the railroad that the two conductors — each with more than 27 years’ experience — falsified work records. In at least two instances, investigators found that when both were scheduled to work the same train, one would report to work and clock in both, while the other stayed home.
In interviews, the two conductors — who were not identified — admitted to similar deceptions on at least six occasions, saying one had to stay home and care for a family member on short notice, when the report notes requesting time off would have resulted in potential discipline and a financial penalty.
While the report recommended punishment up to and including termination, the New York Post reports the LIRR fined the two conductors and suspended them for 15 days.
I’m not condoning the practice of stealing time, but when company policy makes it impossible to take time off, these sorts of abuses will happen.
Traditional to start employee discipline with a suspension pending further investigation …. doesn’t mean it ends there. There could be more serious discipline down the road.
This would fall under the old adage, “stealing time”, which I was always told is the worst infraction and the one treated most seriously. Short of stealing company property and violence, I suppose.
I know of at least one Class 1 railroad that would have gone straight to termination for this.
I think the LIRR labor-management people may know what is best in this case.