Improprieties in Time and Attendance Practices at Medical Facilities

Gao ID: FGMSD-76-79 January 14, 1977

Allegations were made of improprieties in time and attendance practices by physicians at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia.

All three physicians on the penitentiary medical staff earning maximum pay were improperly taking compensatory time off during working hours while being reported on regular duty. Instances were also found at other U.S. penitentiaries in which physicians earning maximum pay were improperly taking compensatory time off. The Bureau of Prisons and the Public Health Service recognize the difficulty of retaining physicians in the government because of lower income and inconsistencies within the federal pay system. However, officials are prohibited from authorizing compensatory leave for overtime, night, holiday, or Sunday work for physicians earning maximum pay. Two applications by an employee for 79 hours of sick leave were apparently fraudulent since the applications contained signatures of a nonexistent physician.

Recommendations

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