Jacksonville’s public utility JEA is looking within for answers about whether employees are happy and if business is being done correctly, saying the effort is independent of an ongoing City Council probe.
The push is framed as “proactive and deliberate steps to ensure a safe, respectful, and productive work environment for all employees.” But City Council members see them as too little, too late, and say investigations into the utility will continue.
The utility has commissioned its outside employment law firm, Jackson Lewis, for an “independent, third-party review” of “recent allegations regarding workplace culture.” Lawyer Cherie Silberman of Tampa will conduct the review, which will begin next month.
“As part of her work, Silberman will evaluate JEA’s employment policies, conduct interviews with leadership and employees, and take any additional steps necessary to provide a thorough and objective assessment,” the utility says.
Management will not steer the process.
An employee engagement survey will be taken by Energage next month also.
The moves come after the City Council held its first meeting of the JEA Special Investigative Committee amid questions about the utility’s activities, including unpaid capacity fees and concerns about its culture that led City Council President Kevin Carrico to say he’d heard from employees regarding alleged “racism” in the utility.
Carrico is skeptical of the timing and vows that the Special Investigative Committee will proceed.
“JEA’s sudden decision to launch its own ‘independent’ review comes far too late – and only after months of unanswered questions, mounting concerns about workplace culture, missing funds, and skyrocketing utility costs for ratepayers. Quite frankly, this feels like a Johnny-come-lately response prompted not by accountability, but by the City Council asking tough questions,” he told Florida Politics on Wednesday.
“There is a clear lack of trust — and for good reason. The idea that JEA can effectively investigate itself after these ongoing issues strains credibility with the very ratepayers we represent,” Carrico added. “That is exactly why the Council established a Special Investigative Committee to ensure a truly independent, transparent review on behalf of the people of Jacksonville. The Committee will continue its work without hesitation and remains committed to getting to the bottom of these serious concerns.”
Rory Diamond, a prominent voice in favor of changes at the utility, echoes Carrico’s consternation.
“It would have been great if their Board Chair had initiated such a review before he ignored all the allegations and bullied a vote of confidence. Day late and a dollar short,” the Republican from the Beaches said.
Ju’Coby Pittman, a Democrat on the committee, expressed cultural concerns during Tuesday’s meeting.
“I can share with you what I’ve heard. There is one person who is advocating for about 15 other people. They are afraid because they don’t want to lose their job,” Pittman said.
“And I’m just sharing with you just the people who are currently here. I’ve also had an opportunity to talk to people who were employed at JEA, and they were terminated. And some of the reasons for them being terminated are just unacceptable. And a few of them are also who were in management and who had been at JEA for several years.”