Agency for Work Force Intervention
The Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI), in large part the successor to Florida's Department of Labor and Employment Security, is Governor Jeb Bush's executive department charged with "protecting" the interests of the working people of Florida. OPPAGA reports on AWI

Check the new WhoseFlorida for updates

Bush appoints chief for work force agency
Gov. Jeb Bush named Susan Pareigis to lead the state Agency for Workforce Innovation on Monday. She replaces Tom McGurk, who resigned in July to run for Congress. 9/16/02

Bush names new interim director of state labor agency
TALLAHASSEE — Luci Hadi was named interim director of the state Agency for Workforce Innovation, filling in for Tom McGurk, who resigned to run for Congress. Hadi, named to head the agency Monday by Gov. Jeb Bush, had been deputy director of the agency, which formerly was known as the state Department of Labor. 7/24/02

Operation Paycheck runs out of money
Operation Paycheck, the program designed to help laid-off workers after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, ran out of money this week, but state officials scrambled Tuesday to find other funds to aid people who want job training. 7/18/02

Record unemployment claims - Florida's unemployment rate for September was 4.3 percent. The October statistics won't be available until mid November. But Warren May, spokesman for the state's Agency for Workforce Innovation, said first-time unemployment compensation claims reached a record 80,554 during the month.- "That's compared to 52,794 first-time filings in September," he said. "The closest we came to the October number in the past was in 1991."

 

What is the Agency for Workforce Innovation that will be increased by over 1500 jobs?  Joie

 

AWI's director, Tom McGurk, is now emphasizing his view that AWI's "primary focus is on the employer" and urging AWI's State employees to seek an award to "ZAP" practices that are not favorable to business interests (see copy of memo below, and attachments).  

This is obviously an effort to promote favorable treatment of the business
operators that are one part of AWI's clientele and, equally obviously, an
attempt to encourage unfavorable treatment of workers and others constituting
the remainder of the clientele.  

How can AWI's workers, who have the duty to apply the law impartially in
dealing with all citizens of Florida, avoid feeling required to conform with
the governor's political agenda in light of such pressures?  

How do such pressures to act with prejudice in favor of employers impact upon
AWI's significant mission of impartially administering disputed claims for
Unemployment Compensation?

Unfortunately, this seems but a clear example of which interests our governor
and his ilk wish to receive their "Service First."   
... NO NAME   Tallahassee 3/28/01
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ATTACHED TO ABOVE MESSAGE:)
--
> -----Original Message-----
> From:    McGurk, Thomas D.
> Sent:    Tuesday, March 27, 2001 2:48 PM
> To:    AWI Associates
> Subject:    ZAP
>
>
>  <<...>>       Jeb Bush Governor Tom McGurk Director    
>         
> MEMORANDUM
>
>
>
> DATE:    March 27, 2001
>
> TO:        All Associates
>
> FROM:    Tom McGurk
>
> SUBJECT:    Zap Antibusiness (Employer) Practices Award   <<ZAP>>
>
> The Agency for Workforce Innovation is continually seeking ways to improve
> our processes.  As a result of this endeavor, we have discovered some
> business unfriendly processes that cause employers to expend excessive
> time or dollars to accommodate the agency.  Since our primary focus is on
> the employer, our goal is to   <<ZAP.>>  these  practices.  This will take
> creative and innovative actions and require a structured approach to
> redesigning our service delivery.  
>
> We have established the  <<ZAP>>   (Zap Antibusiness Practices) Award as
> an incentive for associates of this agency to help eliminate employer
> unfriendly practices and achieve performance excellence.  Information on
> this award is available on the agency Intranet at http://www.jb/
>
> Since this program is currently funded through June 30, 2001, I encourage
> each of you to join in our efforts to explore ways to do your work
> differently and   <<ZAP>>  antibusiness practices.   Pending legislation
> will determine the viability of this program after July 1, 2001.
>
>
> Carol Booth has been appointed as the AWI Awards Coordinator.  If you have
> any questions about the  <<ZAP>>  award, please contact her at (850)
> 488-7228, extension 1334, or via e-mail at Carol.Booth@AWI.state.fl.us.
>
> Please refer to the following attachments for information and application.
>
>
>  <<ZAP Form (1).doc>>  <<Information on ZAP Application.doc>>


Agencies     Residents    Home