Some former employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who were dismissed, re-hired, and then let go again this spring report having received debt notices from the federal government requiring repayment for medical compensation which they assert they never received.
These workers describe this as the latest chapter in a firing process marked by confusion, inadequate communication, and insufficient documentation, leaving them grappling with fundamental workplace concerns.
Three NOAA employees provided a letter to NBC News labeled “Notice of Payment Request.” Dated June 16, the letter claimed the employee owed money (sometimes several hundred dollars) with potential interest on the amount. It also warned that any unpaid debt would be reported to the Credit Bureau.
“The language is very ominous and threatening,” remarked Salakoury, who was dismissed in late February from his role as director of the agency’s marine acidification program.
It remains unclear how many dismissed employees received this notice; two former NOAA staff members informed NBC News that they did not get such letters.
The notice indicates that the debt pertains to healthcare premiums for the eighth and ninth months of the year, during which the health insurance plan had already lapsed.
“After my termination, they attempted to file a claim related to their health insurance, of which I had no reports,” noted Ya’el Seid-Green, a former special assistant at NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Atmospheric Research. “It’s just rubbing salt in the wound regarding how incompetent this is.”
NOAA spokesperson Kim Doster stated the agency could not comment on ongoing personnel issues and was unable to forward inquiries to the HR Administration, which did not respond initially. The Department of Commerce, which oversees NOAA, also did not reply.
Following NBC News’s inquiry about the problems at NOAA’s Media Affairs group, probationary employees received an acknowledgment from their representatives about potential errors.
“Our office is aware that you may have received a debt notice from the National Finance Center (NFC),” read an email sent to a probationary employee. “Please be assured that we are collaborating with the NFC to address this matter. No action is required from you at this moment. We will provide further information and updates.”
In February, the Department of Commerce terminated over 600 probationary employees at NOAA, including hurricane hunters, meteorologists, and storm modelers. Probationary employees typically serve their first or second year in a new position at the agency.
In mid-March, a judge ordered many of these employees reinstated, prompting NOAA to place them on administrative leave. However, in early April, the Supreme Court temporarily halted some of these reinstatements, leading to a second dismissal of the employees.
A former employee stated that the chaotic process of hiring and firing has resulted in documentation errors and confusion, leaving them unable to obtain answers from the agency.
Sabrina Valenti, a former budget analyst at NOAA, expressed concern that she has not yet received her separation paperwork from the agency.
“It has been four months since my termination, and there is no record acknowledging it,” she stated.
Additionally, the employees reported not having access to the health benefits that should have been available during their reinstatement period. Seid-Green underwent surgery in April while on administrative leave.
“We were receiving salaries during administrative leave, and our health insurance contributions were deducted,” she mentioned.
After her surgery, Seid-Green discovered that her health insurance had lapsed.
She subsequently applied to continue her temporary compensation, a program that allows government employees to retroactively cover their health benefits. However, that has also not been successful.
Seid-Green remarked that this effectively means she has been billed twice for health insurance she has not received.
“I’ve received letters demanding over $14,000 for the surgery,” she shared. “Not only did they fail to provide the compensation we were owed, but now they are sending us debt notices for benefits we never received.”
Tim White House, executive director of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting environmental workers and monitoring administrative issues, stated that these errors reflect deeper leadership failures within the agency.
“They are inflicting emotional and financial burdens on these employees. The Department of Commerce is at fault. Other agencies have resolved these issues, while they remain persistent in this department,” he concluded.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
