A strange investigation

The neglected civil servants of the public, the Auxiliary Services Class... In my column two weeks ago, I voiced the problems and demands of these individuals. Now, I will talk about the investigation that the personnel of the auxiliary services class has undergone. As I stated in the title, it is a strange investigation. Why did I choose this title? The allegations are not something to be taken lightly.

Imagine a manager who does something they should never do to an auxiliary services class employee working under them, regardless of the mistake made. They use violence. They grab them by the throat. They tear their t-shirt. They shout. They hurl insults. They use profanity. They kick the phone that fell to the floor. Their voice echoes everywhere. Later, they even keep records claiming this young person was not at their post when they went to the restroom. What was the result? The details of this investigation are described in the email I received as follows.

According to the accounts in the documents, we are talking today about a young man raised by the state in the Child Protection Agency. He is 24 years old. He is an Auxiliary Services Class personnel. This person, who started working in 2020, was transferred in mid-October after serving in many public institutions. And with that transfer, almost everything that could happen to him did. According to his statement in the official document, he was attacked by his manager. His t-shirt was torn. His phone, which fell to the floor, was kicked. In the following days, records were kept against him continuously for 5 days in a row. And what happened next? This young man received a reprimand. I can hear you saying, "What else?" I said the same things when I first read it.

JUST 15 DAYS LATER...

When the date showed October 15, 2023, this young man was transferred to the Defterdarlık (Tax Office) department under the Küçükçekmece District Governorship. He was trying to get used to his workplace with the excitement of a new place and new friends. When the date showed October 30, 2023, the process full of records and investigations began for this young man. When he was late for work that day, a record was kept by his manager. The allegations in these records were directed at the young man whose statement was taken by the inspectors.

"It has been determined that you were not at your post as of 09:30. It was detected that you signed the attendance sheet as if you had arrived at 08:35, and then, when it was noticed, you signed as if you had arrived at 09:35, but you actually arrived at 09:48. How do you respond to these allegations?"

The young man said, "I arrived at work at 09:35 that day and signed in that way. I did not write 08:35 and change it. Afterward, I entered the manager's office, explained my reason for being late, apologized, and said it would not happen again. My manager suddenly said to me, 'Don't compare me to your other managers,' and tried to belittle me. Upon this, I replied, 'Don't compare me to the other personnel either.' He attacked me. He grabbed me by the neck and collar. He tore my t-shirt. I said, 'Manager, please calm down,' and tried to defend myself with the phone in my hand. While doing this, he hit my hand and my phone fell to the floor. When I bent down to pick it up, he pushed me outside. I threw myself out. Because I couldn't prove what was happening inside. He walked towards me in front of everyone. I tried to stay calm again. My colleagues, who came to the sound, pulled me away. I asked for my phone. At that moment, my manager kicked my phone. My phone was scratched in many places and was quite damaged. Many of our staff colleagues are witnesses to this. I did not show any disrespect to my manager that day."

Of course, it didn't end there; I don't know what you would call it, but the records continued afterward.

"It has been determined that you were not at your post on October 31, 2023, at 10:40. What do you have to say about this?"

"Yes, I went to the restroom at that time. I told a colleague while I was going. My manager even sent that friend after me to the restroom to check on me. After coming out of the restroom, I went out to smoke in the arbor in the district governorship garden. Then I returned to my post."

"In another record kept on the same day, that is, on October 31, 2023, it was written that you did not clean the area where you were assigned. What do you have to say to this?"

The young man said, "Because my manager attacked me and pressured me the day before, I cannot come to work happy. Due to the psychological problems I experienced and because I did not know how to clean, I did not clean the area where I was assigned that day. I apologized to the other cleaning staff colleagues. They accepted my apology with understanding."

Of course, the records continued on November 1, November 2, and November 3. Records were kept with reasons such as, 'I rang the bell, why didn't you come? I asked for the timesheet, why didn't you bring it? Why aren't you cleaning? Why don't you follow orders and instructions?' The young man gave all the answers to these and stated that he wanted a transfer.

INVESTIGATION COMPLETED...

He explained this whole situation—I don't know what you would call it—to the District Governor of Küçükçekmece. Afterward, he wrote to CİMER (Presidential Communication Center). Upon this, CİMER reported the situation to the Istanbul Governorship. The Governorship gave instructions for the young man's statement to be taken by auditors at the Istanbul Defterdarlık.

The result of the first investigation regarding the young man, who was transferred to another district, has arrived. And what is the result? A 'reprimand' was given. What happened to the manager? He must not have received any punishment, as he continues his managerial role.

Now the young man we reached asks: "Was a truly fair investigation conducted? Why was I given a reprimand and he wasn't? I am the one whose t-shirt was torn, who was attacked, and whose phone was damaged. I am the one who received the reprimand... I grew up in the Child Protection Agency. Believe me, I was never subjected to such treatment..."