OIG Report Finds Chicago Airport Workers Drank on the Clock
An investigation by the City of Chicago’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has revealed that multiple employees at O’Hare International Airport engaged in misconduct, including drinking alcohol during working hours. The report details instances where Aviation Department staff consumed beer, cocktails, and liquor at nearby bars or parties before returning to their shifts. In some cases, supervisors purchased alcohol for subordinates during lunch breaks. The probe involved 14 subjects, primarily from the Aviation Department, with seven found to have made false statements to investigators. Beyond alcohol consumption, the OIG uncovered additional violations such as unauthorized extended breaks, falsified time records, idling on the clock, managerial incompetence, and theft of city property, including a duplicated parking placard. At the time of the investigation's completion, eleven subjects remained employed by the Aviation Department, while others worked in Transportation or Water Management. The OIG recommended disciplinary actions, up to discharge and bans from future city employment, which the relevant departments have preliminarily agreed to implement. This findings release highlights significant operational and ethical breaches within the city's airport management infrastructure.
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OIG Report Finds Chicago Airport Workers Drank on the Clock
An investigation by the City of Chicago’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has revealed that multiple employees at O’Hare International Airport engaged in misconduct, including drinking alcohol during working hours. The report details instances where Aviation Department staff consumed beer, cocktails, and liquor at nearby bars or parties before returning to their shifts. In some cases, supervisors purchased alcohol for subordinates during lunch breaks. The probe involved 14 subjects, primarily from the Aviation Department, with seven found to have made false statements to investigators. Beyond alcohol consumption, the OIG uncovered additional violations such as unauthorized extended breaks, falsified time records, idling on the clock, managerial incompetence, and theft of city property, including a duplicated parking placard. At the time of the investigation's completion, eleven subjects remained employed by the Aviation Department, while others worked in Transportation or Water Management. The OIG recommended disciplinary actions, up to discharge and bans from future city employment, which the relevant departments have preliminarily agreed to implement. This findings release highlights significant operational and ethical breaches within the city's airport management infrastructure.
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