Yellowstone Park Service Workers Disciplined Amid Reports of Misconduct
by Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. — As many as 10 workers in Yellowstone National Park's maintenance division will be disciplined after an investigation found female employees being subjected to sexual harassment and other problems.
The move comes as widespread reports of harassment, bullying and other misconduct have tarnished the image of the National Park Service and its parent agency, the U.S. Interior Department.
Investigators have uncovered problems at many of the nation's premier parks — Yellowstone, Yosemite, Canaveral National Seashore, the Grand Canyon — as well as inappropriate behavior toward female employees by the Interior Department's former director of law enforcement.
The agency's Office Inspector General launched its investigation into Yellowstone last year when a park employee complained to a local magazine and members of Congress that a pervasive "men's club" environment had encouraged the exploitation and abuse of female workers.
The results of the investigation were shared with park officials more than four months ago, on March 13. The inspector general's investigation also found that government-issued charge cards in the maintenance division had been misused.
Wenk said personnel actions stem from both the harassment problems and charge card misuse but declined to be more specific citing employee privacy.
Punishments will be proposed by Aug. 1 or soon afterward for the employees and could range from reprimands to suspensions or firing, Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said.
The workers can appeal before the penalties become final. (Emphasis Mine~corbe)<..snip..>
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/yellowstone-park-service-workers-disciplined-amid-reports-misconduct-n787436
