In a city plagued by scandal and mismanagement, a new revelation has emerged that exposes the deeply rooted issues within The City of Austin's Human Resources department.
Joya Hayes, the Director of Human Resources and the Director of Civil Service has come under scrutiny for her questionable actions and lack of respect for her position. As a skeptical observer, it is my duty to shed light on this troubling matter.
Joya Hayes official HR photo (courtesy: City of Austin)...
Let's start with Hayes' background
With over 22 years of experience in human resources and an impressive educational background, one would expect exemplary leadership from her.
She has worked for various organizations, including the State of Texas and the city of Richmond, Virginia, before joining the City of Austin.
However, her track record is not as pristine as it may seem.
First, let's address the ethics complaint filed against Hayes in 2019. It alleged that she had used city resources for personal matters, specifically childcare. Although the case was dismissed, questions still linger about her privilege and potential misuse of executive power.
In an interview with Fox 7, Hayes attempted to defend herself, claiming that no privilege was involved.
However, the details of the incident paint a different picture.
The ethics report revealed that while on vacation, Hayes took a work-related phone call and parked at the city's Learning and Research Center, leaving her 5-year-old foster son in the car.
An HR assistant noticed the situation and offered to take care of the child while Hayes dealt with her flight issues.
While Hayes argues that no city resources were used, it raises concerns about the blurred lines between personal and professional responsibilities.
The situation took a dramatic turn during a meeting in December of 2022. During a closed-door meeting, Council Member Alter recounted a phone call she received from Hayes to other council members, during which Hayes referred to Alter using derogatory language.
High-level sources that were in the room at the time tell the Austin Texas Times that Hayes yelled into the phone “That B**ch Alter” without realizing that she was talking to Alison Alter.
This disrespectful behavior raises serious doubts about Hayes' professionalism and raises questions about the working environment she fostered within the Human Resources department. With a salary of over $195,000 per year, one would think she would be better about communicating over the phone.
She tells the council in regards to an incident with Hayes (copied directly from the City Council Transcript):
"Yesterday in the course of trying to do my job in evaluating request for a pay increase I requested documentation -- a reasonable request. Shortly after this person accidentally called me and I heard them refer to me using a derogatory expletive, a word that is offensive against women. This is troubling.
The fact the employee felt comfortable speaking these words to a subordinate troubles me. My experience is emblematic of a culture that has been fostered under the manager's leadership -- a culture not based on foundation of clear and respectful collaboration with the council. A culture to many feels toxic, unsupported and unaccountable."
A still image of Alison Alter on December 8, 2022 speaking about Spencer Cronk's merit based pay raise and providing the example of Joya Hayes' behavior as a reason not to support it
Moreover, whistleblowers have come forward during Hayes' leave following Council Member Alison Alter's allegations. These individuals shed light on problems within Hayes' management style, adding credibility to the claims of a broken department under her leadership.
The Austin Texas Times has obtained emails from these whistleblowers, exposing the concerns they raised about Hayes and her management practices.
Page one of the email to the mayor and council from an anonymous HR employee, which sparked future investigations. This email was independently obtained and verified by Austin Texas Times staff.
Page Two of the email to the mayor and city council from an anonymous HR employee, which sparked future investigations. This email was independently obtained and verified by Austin Texas Times staff.
From what the Austin Texas Times was able to ascertain, an official investigation ensued.
Unfortunately, the details of the investigation are not public but from what we can understand after reviewing the following redacted email, the investigation took place between mid-December of 2022 and April 25, 2023.
Hayes was out for four months on administrative leave, continuing to receive a paycheck among these allegations. As the following email shows, then City Manager Spencer Cronk was aware of the allegations and looking into them:
A copy of the redacted version of the independently obtained email regarding an update on HR complaints to the mayor and council[
As the investigation into Hayes' alleged misconduct came to a close, the City Manager's office sent an official memo to the Mayor and Council on April 25, 2023 regarding the "retirement" of Joya Hayes as HR Director.
However, the circumstances surrounding her departure cast doubt on the notion of voluntary retirement.
Memo sent to Mayor and Council by the Austin City Manager regarding Joya Hayes' "retirement"
Just days before her "retirement," Hayes was spotted in New Orleans, reveling in the company of the Silver Fox Squad, a group known for its luxurious and carefree lifestyle.
The image and video of Hayes joyously parading around a conference via Tik Tok only days before her departure raises concerns about her level of privilege and her commitment to her responsibilities.
Also of note is that during this investigation, Hayes was being paid her regular salary.
A screen grab of this Tik Tok shows Director Hayes, while on Administrative Leave and under investigation, partying it up at a conference in New Orleans. Days after this Tik Tok, Hayes "retired" from the City of Austin.
The Austin Texas Times believes that the "retirement" of Joya Hayes was not as simple as it appears.
There are underlying issues of mismanagement and disrespect that need to be addressed within The City of Austin's Human Resources department. The hardworking residents of this great city deserve transparency and accountability from their public officials.
As an author dedicated to uncovering the truth, I will continue to investigate and report on these matters, ensuring that the voices of those affected are heard. Stay tuned for more updates as we delve deeper into these troubling activities at City Hall.
Together, we can demand a higher standard of integrity and leadership in our city's administration.
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