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* Zak Koeske at the Daily Southtown…
[Olympia Fields trustee Cassandra Matz], who worked as [Sen. Michael Hastings’] chief of staff from 2015 until he fired her in October 2018, claims in her suit that Hastings [D-Tinley Park] paid her less than her predecessor, criticized her writing and manner of speaking, and treated her differently than his other employees.
When Matz, who is black, complained to Hastings that his treatment of her amounted to harassment, the senator, who is white, placed her on paid leave and referred her complaint to the Office of the Senate President for investigation, her suit claims.
Senate officials investigated Matz’s claims, but were unable to corroborate them, documents show, citing the “limited information available” to them as a result of Matz’s inability to be reached for an interview.
Upon the conclusion of the investigation, Hastings asked the legislative inspector general to investigate Matz for “conducting a private real estate business during state compensated time while misappropriating state resources,” records show.
Go read the whole thing. Lots of twists and turns.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:32 am
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All I will say is that if these allegations were made against the Speaker, people would be losing their minds right now and calling for resignations and such. Not saying that is necessarily appropriate here, but just pointing out the double standard.
Comment by Powdered Whig Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:40 am
The word “harassment” is such a charged term, it probably shouldn’t be used by the Southtown in their coverage of this case — at least not in the headline. We automatically read it to mean sexual harassment, which is not part of the allegation. There’s a big difference between being an unreasonably demanding boss and being a workplace sexual predator. The headline blurs that distinction.
Comment by Roman Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:41 am
I really don’t know what to make of this one. I read the Trib story the other day. Twists and turns indeed. Just don’t know what to believe.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:42 am
Wait, what? A boss criticized an employee for lack of writing skills? Egads, man what is the world coming to?
Comment by Michael Westen Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:48 am
This is a ridiculous lawsuit. I can’t even see where the Senator is remotely at fault. So, don’t show up for work, lie about it, neglect your duties, and then sue for harassment? Ridiculous. The court should sanction her attorney for bringing such a frivolous lawsuit.
Comment by Luda Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 11:52 am
This sounds like a lot of he said/she said that may never get sorted out. Given that they started out as such close supporters, I have to believe there is more to the story.
Comment by Leslie K Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:00 pm
Rutherford already dealt with this crap.
Comment by Dudef Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:06 pm
Started out as close supporters? That’s a joke. The Senator plucked her from obscurity and gave her an opportunity, that quite frankly she probably wasn’t qualified for but he took a chance. Hell, he got her elected too, not her. Anyone who has worked with the Senator while she was employed knows full and well she was never around and impossible to get ahold of during the day. When you had to reach the Senator you’d have to get him directly or call his Springfield office to reach one of his solid LAs or Lisa (Mulroe’s LA). Anyone who says otherwise is one of two things - not in the know, or a liar. Those are facts. Don’t believe them, just ask the Springfield LAs that had to pick her slack up all the time.
Comment by CoachMalone Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:12 pm
If she broke her ankle, and the resulting treatment required her to miss work, why wasn’t she just using sick days or requesting FMLA?
Your boss can not prevent you from using sick days or FMLA for a legit illness or injury, but they can fire you for not showing up for work if you don’t make the actual time-off requests.
Sounds to me like this employee-turned-trustee thought the rules no longer applied to her around the office.
Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:12 pm
Yea, this sounds more like a bad employee’s attempt at “graymailing” the Senator.
Comment by CoachMalone Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:19 pm
If she truly had very little experience compared to the previous experienced person, she has no grounds for the unequal pay claim. Trainees don’t get the same pay as professionals.
As to the rest, from reading the story, it sounds like someone thought they were entitled, found out they weren’t, and now has sour grapes over it.
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:47 pm
He appears to have followed the training to the letter and did exactly as he was supposed to do.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:33 pm
Hastings treating women unprofessionally? Never heard of that one before (sarcasm).
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:30 pm
The Senator is a West Point graduate and Bronze star recipient.
Sounds like a disgruntled employee.
Comment by FDR DEMOCRAT Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:32 pm
Wait, State Senators have a “Chief of Staff”?
Comment by Law Man Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:38 pm
Hastings has opened doors for several folks. He gave them responsibility and those who did a good job, he helped them move on and up. He gave this woman an opportunity and she took advantage of him and the privilege she was offered. You can’t conduct an outside business on state time.
Comment by Because I said so.... Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:40 pm
Talk about an up-and-down relationship. The fact this is such a rollercoaster ride make them both seem not credible equally.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 5:49 pm
using state time and resources for side real estate business … nuff said.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 7:54 am