Prairie Public Broadcasting

Three WSI "whistleblowers" fired BISMARCK, ND (Prairie Public) - Three top executives at the state's workers compensation agency have been fired.
All three had sought whistleblower status. North Dakota law says a state employee who raises concerns about possible agency wrongdoing can't suffer retaliation. But it's up to that person to hire a lawyer and try to enforce his or her employment rights.

The fired Workforce Safety and Insurance executives include chief of support services Jim Long, human resource manager Billi Peltz and internal auditor Kay Grinsteinner.

Grinsteinner was fired after a meeting of the WSI board's audit committee. Immediately following that meeting, Peltz was dismissed. And Long says he found out about his dismissal by an e-mail sent to his lawyer.

Long says he's planning to sue. He says his dismissal was retaliation for cooperating with investigations into WSI management.

"It sends a clear message to every state workers," said Long. "If they are a witness to something illegal or unethical, they had just better shut up -- otherwise, they'll be fired."

The audit committee used a consultant's report to fire Grinsteinner. But at least one WSI board member was troubled by that.

Ed Grossbauer says he's frustrated by the whole situation. He says the former audit committee chairman Mark Gjovig -- did not treat Grinsteinner with respect at a previous audit committee meeting.

"We'd better treat this position with the respect it deserves," said Grossbauer. "The fact that we don't like what is being found is not a reason to get
rid of a person."

Gjovig took issue with Grossbauer.

"I just lost all trust in her (Grinsteinner)," said Gjovig.

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