A head rolls
The wiz kid director of the Oregon health department, Sejal Hathi, fired her agency's equity and inclusion director a couple of weeks ago, and the reverberations are still being heard. Between the HR skullduggery and the paywalls, it's hard to figure out what went down, except that the now-unemployed bureaucrat, Leann Johnson (pictured), must have rubbed somebody in power the wrong way.
They say the governor signed off on the termination, which means the First Lady probably did, too. Heck, it may have even been the governor's idea.
There'll be recriminations back and forth, I'm sure, and a lawsuit, and probably a settlement, all pretty standard procedure for Salem. But what stuck out to me in all the coverage about the brouhaha is the fact that the health authority's equity and inclusion division has a budget of $26 million a year, and 86 employees.
What the heck are all those people doing with all that money? I'm not as much of a kneejerk opponent of "equity" initiatives as some people I could name, but gosh, I sure would like to see the deliverables and the performance metrics for that kind of jack.
Not that the firing had anything to do with efficiency. I'm sure it was something a lot nastier. Johnson worked at the health authority forever; Hathi has been there less than six months. The place is so "toxic," we'll probably never know.
My understanding from someone who works there is she was singlehandedly holding up a lot of initiatives inside the agency. It was a popular decision, even among those who, like my friend, are generally inclined to support DEI initiatives.
ReplyDeleteThere's a faint aroma of Patrick Allen's English Leather coming from somewhere.
DeleteBig biz is dropping DEI left and right these days. Big gov is as usual late to the party. They realize it's just postering that costs a shipload of dough and tosses merit out the window and the best people out the door.
ReplyDeleteMuch as your TV tells you this story, it ain't so on the ground, friend.
DeleteYou seem like an insider. How is it different?
DeleteThe private sector discovered that equity and inclusion programs produce hiring that does little more than check boxes.
And those ‘executive’ types who preside over such programs are a cancer on the organization, prompting the notion that favored demographics are composed largely of incompetents who cannot succeed without DEI. They also stigmatize those individuals who have the chops to succeed on their own as ‘protected’ hires.
DEI is everywhere the enemy of competence in the workplace.
If you think DEI is dropping right and left, you need a new news provider.
DeleteEvery company that fuels your 401k has a robust DEI program. You'll notice your balance is at an all-time high this week.
DeleteIf you REALLY believe DEI is killing corporate America and want nothing to do with it, give your balance to Elon. He'll give you what you're looking for.
Might be a good idea
DeleteReally tired of the spin that local media willingly publishes to support their friends in government agencies.
ReplyDeleteMs. Johnson deserved this firing. She was pitching fits about so many things, that her department ground to a halt and work wasn’t being done, including some important upcoming initiatives and projects. She don’t like change, and was basically a dinosaur at OHA.
ReplyDeleteSide note, the OHA is much to large and should be broken up into two or more likely three separate agencies. Just a tremendous amount of waste happening.
Not to forget how the OHA has become a magnet attracting those in need from around the world and overwhelming Oregon's medical services.
ReplyDeleteThis may become a news story with legs. Sounds like the lines are drawn.
ReplyDeleteCorporate America loves DEI because it changes the narrative from 50 years of stagnant wage growth and rising profits to a much tidier "your life is crappy because America is racist, and we can't solve racism, but we will spend money trying." There never has been any performance metrics for DEI and there never will be.
ReplyDelete