County employee alleges retaliation and seeks commission intervention; HR to report back

Tamika Williams, who said she has served Shelby County government nearly a decade, told the County Commission her role as a juvenile-court data research specialist was eliminated abruptly after she sought clarification about job duties following a reassignment to the IT team. Williams said three male colleagues affected by the same reorganization were offered alternative positions and promotions while she received none, and she described having filed a formal complaint that she said led to retaliation.

"This is not just an oversight. It reflects a troubling lack of equity and consistency," Williams said. She asked the commission to "step in to ensure there's fairness, accountability, and real protection for county employees." Commissioners directed Gerald Thorne, director of human resources, to meet with Williams, investigate her allegations, and report back to the body. Thorne acknowledged he had not been fully briefed in the meeting but agreed to sit down and provide a report back to the commission.