Fenty Provides Update on Summer Youth Employment Payroll Issues

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty provided a public update on the city's continuing work to correct payroll problems within the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) today.  This coming Friday marks the second pay period after the completion of an internal investigation into the operations and systems that caused serious problems within the Summer Youth Employment Program payroll. After further investigation into the payroll records of each participant in the program approximately 1,700 individuals were removed from the rolls for pay period five.

“We continue to use every pay period as a learning opportunity for creating a stronger and more successful Summer Youth Employment Program in 2009,” said Fenty. “Every pay period and paycheck matters as we work to instill an excellent work ethic and build job skills for our young people.”

In addition to the 1,700 individuals removed during pay period five, 3,000 individuals were removed the previous pay period.  Reasons for removal included ineligibility, termination, failure to report to work, duplications and attrition. Enrollment for SYEP now stands at just under 16,500 after pay period five, down from 21,000 during pay period three.  

By ensuring that only the youth that are eligible for the program and worked received pay, the cost for payroll has been reduced by approximately $700,000 from the previous pay period.   The summer youth employment program has concluded for 2008 and one more pay period will be distributed in two weeks. As the last pay period of the summer before the start of school the next pay period should see further attrition as participants prepare for the beginning of classes.