Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has asked certain exempt state-employees, who serve at the pleasure of the governor, to quit.
A spokeswoman for Perdue, Chrissy Pearson, said the request affects about 100 employees whose positions are considered policy-making. Those employees are exempted from sections of the state personnel law that deal with termination and discipline. Exempted jobs are often considered so closely tied to a governor's goals that he or she is allowed to hire and fire them without regard to the process required for the rest of state employees. Other exemptions are granted for certain managerial positions and statutorial reasons.
Those employees have been asked to resign and Perdue's new cabinet secretaries will decide whether to rehire them or not. The letters are going out by e-mail and snail mail now.
Perdue has already decided that one exempt employee will not be back. Another is no longer exempt.
Update: Post includes text of the letter and more information about when it will go out.
Document(s):
exempt_letter.pdf
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Re: If you're exempt, quit
Winsfore is correct that most of these positions are occupied by professionals who EARNED their positions the hard, old fashioned way and who do work hard for the state. Nor are they big contributors if they contribute at all. Unfortunately, they have to answer to the political hacks who are awarded positions on commissions and boards and whose sense of entitlement is purchased.
That's why this cannot be called a step toward reform. Rather, Bev is sending a signal to the legitimate workers that notwithstanding their years of work, their qualifications and their service to the state, their positions are to be played with like so many pawns on a chessboard.
Meanwhile, the political spoils system is still in place, as we'll see.