Mayor Garnett Johnson’s chief of staff has filed a grievance against her boss, saying he’s created a hostile work environment after he sent her home from work for two days with no explanation.
Chief of Staff Jasmine Chavous Sims filed the grievance June 25 with the human resources department. The Augusta Press obtained it Wednesday through an open records request.
Sims said on the morning of June 24, she informed the mayor by phone about an appointment she had, and he questioned her about it.
“I was asked why this appointment had not been shared in the office group chat,” Sims said. “I explained this was an oversight,” she said, but that she “informed other staff members” and “placed (it) on the office calendar.”
Johnson said, “Thank you Jasmine,” and they hung up, but a few minutes later he called back. “Don’t bother coming in today,” he said.
Sims said she asked what was wrong, and Johnson said nothing. Then he told her, “I’ll call you me (sic) after I get back in town,” and sent her home for no stated reason.
Then the following morning at 6:14 a.m., Sims said Johnson texted her, saying “there’s no need for you to return today.” For the second time he gave no cause and she’d received no documentation, rationale or due process, Sims said in the grievance.
Reached Wednesday, Johnson said there was more to the story but that he could not talk about a personnel matter.
“There’s more but we can’t discuss it. It’s a personnel matter,” he said.
Sims, who joined the mayor’s office alongside Johnson in 2023, said she’s a proud member of the department and is “fully committed to the mission” of the office. But the incident has caused her “significant stress and confusion” and it wasn’t the first time.
The incident has “contributed to what I believe is an ongoing continuum of incidents that have created a hostile work environment,” she said. Sims requested a formal inquiry into the matter, including why she was denied access to her workplace on the two occasions.
“This lack of transparency and due process undermines my ability to perform my job and contributes to a toxic and intimidating atmosphere,” Sims said.
She asked that “measures be taken to ensure a safe, respectful and equitable work environment going forward.”
Grievance Statement Redacted by Susan McCord on Scribd
