A city auditor investigating the matter released a report in January regarding a city of Austin assistant director of human resources who oversaw the raffle at an HR association conference. City employees are prohibited from engaging in games of chance and from winning prizes at events that are not sponsored by the city.
"When interviewed, the assistant director of HRD who conducted the raffle states that city employees are not allowed to participate in games of chance," the investigation revealed.
While Joya Hayes, director of Human Resources and Civil Services, says she attended the conference, she maintained she was unaware of the raffle. Hayes said if she had known, she would have "addressed the situation immediately," a memo to the auditor states.
HR employees who go for training or travel will now have to sign an acknowledgement form of the city's gift policy and procedures, according to the memo. Employees who won prizes will have to return them.