Voluntary and involuntary reassignment and transfer of employees is very much a liability the government cannot afford, says Human Resources Director Sonny L. Thompson in a letter to all the Departments and Agencies, issued last week.

The letter says that voluntary and Involuntary reassignment and transfer of employees, especially career services employees, within or between agencies without approval by the Human Resources director is prohibited and must stop immediately.

The HR Director points out that under the American Samoa Administrative Code 4.0313(b) (1) &(2); reassignment is movement of a permanent employee from one position to another in the same or another class within the same agency with the prior approval of the director.

Transfer is defined as movement of a permanent employee from one position to another in the same or another class between agencies with the prior approval of the director.  All lateral movements of personnel must be approved by the Director, or in the case of the Judicial Branch, the Chief Justice.

According to the letter, the word Director in this case refers to the HR Director.

“Ignoring this warning will result in unnecessary time and effort trying to resolve employee grievances; cause disruptions in the workforce; create low morale; and most importantly, undermine employee dignity and rights. From an economic point of view it is counter productive and very much a liability the American Samoa Government can’t afford.”

Thompson stated that if and when it is necessary to do so — to allow the HR to look at it first and HR will help achieve the mission, while also protecting employee rights.

Late last year Samoa News reported that Chief Election Officer Tuaolo Manaia Fruean had confirmed that in the past, there was an election employee who was working for the Election Office, however he was getting paid from the Property Management budget for at least six months.

The said employee was hired on a contract with the Property Management Department, however due to a disagreement the said employee then moved over to the election office, doing election work while he was getting paid from the property management’s budget.

According to Tuaolo, the said employee was not happy with the Property Management Office so he came to the Election Office, and began working there. During the interview Samoa News asked Tuaolo if this was right — that whenever an employees does not like someone or the director, he or she can just go to another department to work.

Tuaolo declined to comment, but explained that the employee “was mad and he came here and has been working here.”

The Chief Election Officer also confirmed with Samoa News that after the employee’s contract was renewed, he was now getting paid from the Election Office budget.