Whistleblower exposes HR manipulation in LFUCG compensation studies

The Lexington City Council Work Session held on July 1, 2025, featured a heated discussion regarding the credibility of recent compensation studies conducted by the Human Resources (HR) department. The session began with a reminder from Council members about the importance of respectful discourse, particularly in light of previous disparaging remarks made during discussions.

A key speaker raised concerns about the integrity of the HR department's handling of the compensation studies, specifically referencing a manipulation of numbers in the most recent study. The speaker claimed to have whistleblower evidence that HR was attempting to discredit accurate information provided to the council. They emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, suggesting that the council reach out to external sources, such as the University of Louisville and the City of Winchester, to verify the claims made about the studies.

The speaker criticized the lack of benchmarks in the 2022 study compared to the 2014 study, which had provided 50 benchmarks for comparison. They argued that the current study's methodology was flawed and lacked the necessary transparency, as HR had labeled critical information as proprietary. This led to questions about the fairness and accuracy of the compensation assessments for city employees.

Concerns were also raised about the treatment of HR employees and the potential manipulation of their classifications and salaries. The speaker highlighted specific cases, including an employee with significant experience whose salary did not reflect her current position, suggesting systemic issues within the HR department.

The session concluded with a call for further investigation into the compensation studies and a commitment from council members to address these concerns in future meetings. The discussions underscored the ongoing challenges facing the HR department and the need for a thorough review of its practices to ensure fair compensation for city employees.