NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A pair of Long Island Rail Road workers were caught sleeping through their overnight shifts this past October, according to a report by the MTA Inspector General.
An unidentified LIRR supervisor and an assigned dispatcher were discovered sleeping on the job at 3 a.m. on Oct. 1 at the Transportation Crew Management Office in Jamaica, according to the report.
The two were allegedly each sleeping across two office chairs at their desks and were “completely unresponsive.” Both were covered with a blanket and at least one had tied the chairs together, indicating it was a regular habit, the report stated.
“This was no accidental snooze – this was multiple employees, led by example of their supervisor, bringing in blankets and rearranging office furniture to sleep while on the taxpayer’s dime,” MTA Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny said.
Pokorny said the two were caught by investigators, who were acting on a tip that the overnight crew was sleeping while on duty and yelling at co-workers who tried to wake them.
The OIG said investigators used flashlights to enter the room, where they saw the two employees snoozing in the dark.
According to the OIG, the dispatcher only woke after an investigator shined a light into his face.
The dispatcher allegedly asked, “Who are you?” and the supervisor also woke up, telling investigators he was the one in charge.
Once the office lights were turned on, investigators also found another crew member sitting by his desk in the back of the office. However, it is unclear if that worker was also asleep when inspectors entered the office.
The OIG did say that worker’s computer was turned on.
However, he did violate guidelines by failing to report the sleeping duo, according to the report.
"The dispatcher and supervisor violated the public trust by sleeping when they were supposed to be working. Their duties required them to be awake in the event a colleague was needed for dispatch. The fact that the OIG found them unresponsive when entering their office leads to question if they would have been responsive to calls for dispatch," the report stated.
The OIG has recommended that the supervisor and dispatcher both be disciplined, or terminated. In addition, it recommends that paychecks issued for that shift be recouped.
“The LIRR expects all employees to be engaged and attentive while at work. Failure to do so is unacceptable, and the railroad has assessed maximum possible discipline,” said MTA spokesman Dave Steckel.
As a result of the findings, the supervisor and dispatcher caught sleeping were both suspended for several days. MTA officials dropped disciplinary charges against the worker who was sitting at his desk.
The LIRR also charged both dispatchers with conduct unbecoming a LIRR employee and sleeping or assuming the position of sleep while on duty.
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