Amid financial issues, Pierce County clerk staff alleged a toxic workplace environment
Turnover and loss of institutional knowledge were cited by auditors as reasons for a “significant lack” of financial control and general oversight of the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.
The audit, released March 4 and reported by The News Tribune, found the appointment of a new clerk in December 2021, multiple vacancies in key financial positions and significant staff turnover resulted in a general lack of oversight of the court system’s finances, in addition to millions of dollars of delayed bank reconciliations and disbursements.
County Human Resource records obtained by The News Tribune via public record request showed more than five employees talked to Human Resources about clerk Constance White’s leadership in 2022 and 2023, saying White created and fostered a hostile work environment that left many staff feeling isolated, anxious and intimidated.
Those employees, in addition to others mentioned in the complaints, described a pattern of decreased morale and productivity, trust issues, inconsistent communication and fear of retaliation under White’s leadership. They cited those as reasons for leaving the office.
According to Pierce County employee turnover data, 21 people left the Clerk’s Office from 2021-2023, including nine retirements, four resignations, four voluntary separations and four involuntary separations. From 2018-2020, six people left the Clerk’s Office, including five retirements and one voluntary separation, according to Pierce County data.
On March 5, county communications director Libby Catalinich told The News Tribune that White was aware of one anonymous written complaint and verbal conversations about hostile work environment allegations. Catalinich said the county does not comment on personnel issues.
“Constance is solving problems that existed before she arrived to the County,” Catalinich said in an email March 5. “Things have only gotten better.”
In response to the audit, Pierce County said in a letter March 4 that the Clerk’s Office and county’s Finance Department have been working collaboratively to improve internal processes and reporting, as well as hire key staff roles and enhance training.
In January, Catalinich told The News Tribune, which was looking into problems in the office, that turnover and vacancies are not uncommon in Pierce County government. In the 54-person Clerk’s Office, the roles of chief deputy position and a financial manager position have been filled since January, she said March 5.
“Change is hard for some people,” Catalinich told The News Tribune on Jan. 3. “And that’s their choice to do something different if they want to. We get new energy in, we have new employees that are bringing good ideas in.”
County executive Bruce Dammeier told the News Tribune in December that Pierce County has had challenges in more than one department filling financial management positions, but said he was excited to have met the new financial manager at the Clerk’s Office at employee orientation.
“We’ve got really good strong leadership by Gary Robinson in our Finance Department and Constance White in our Clerk’s Office,” he said. “I knew the Clerk’s Office would benefit from fresh eyes and someone who could look at and update some of the processes and procedures in there … Constance has done that in the Clerk’s Office, she’s done a number of things, including expanding community engagement and things that will be to the benefit of the people in Pierce County.”
This story was originally published March 6, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
