Chambers v. Department of Social Services

Margaret Chambers appeals disciplinary action by her employer, Nebraska Department of Social Services (DSS), which resulted in her being placed on probation for 6 months and receiving a demotion and a 15-percent reduction in salary. We reverse and remand with instructions.

Before the disciplinary action, Chambers was an income maintenance worker III and served in an assistant supervisory capacity. DSS claims that such an employee is required to report changes in the economic status of food stamp recipients as soon as such changes come to the employee’s attention, regardless of whether the…