OKDHS Director Issues Statement Regarding Civil Rights Story

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL—  Oklahoma Department of Human Services Director Howard Hendrick issued the following statement Dec. 8, in response to the story in The Oklahoman on Friday, Dec. 8, 2006. 
“It is unfortunate that the voices of a vocal few can distort the record of the OKDHS on civil rights,” said Hendrick. 

Six civil rights employees complained that they had experienced discrimination in a story that appeared in The Oklahoman, today.

“OKDHS has made tremendous progress in employee relations,” said Hendrick. “About two years ago, our Human Resources Management staff initiated a highly successful grievance mediation program that has helped employees and their supervisors improve their understanding of each other’s circumstances and responsibilities. This has helped slash the number of employee grievances by more than 50 percent.”

The number of grievances filed by OKDHS employees is at a record low.  Employee grievances in 2004 were 172; in 2005 were 69; and in 2006 were 60. Throughout the year, more than 8,000 persons are employed by the OKDHS.

“It’s unfortunate that our distinguished record for promoting civil rights has also been misrepresented,” said Hendrick. “The Office of Personnel Management reviews the agency’s performance on civil rights annually.  They review the Agency’s race and gender recruiting and hiring results in a variety of job classifications. 

“In the most recent report prepared by the OKDHS Office of Civil Rights for OPM, the Department documented that it met virtually all of the goals for civil rights set for 2005. The report was reviewed and approved by Oklahoma’s Affirmative Action Review Council and the Office of Personnel Management.  We have a record that any agency would be proud to have.”

The employees who are complaining have collectively filed 15 appeals with the Merit Protection Commission that have been dismissed for lack of evidence.

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