Public commenter says EAP participation left him unpaid; commissioners seek report and staff clarifies disability rules

During the public-comment portion of the Hudson County Board meeting, Dion Rogers identified himself as a Hudson County parks maintenance worker and told the board he was removed from work in 2021, "mandated to see a mental health professional," and was out roughly 15–16 months without receiving disability or workers' compensation.

"I was out 15 months, close to 16 months of work, and I haven't received any disability or any workers' comp," Rogers said, and asked who could help him resolve the income hardship he described.

A county staff member told the board Rogers' concerns "can't be addressed" at the meeting because the matters are part of multiple pending disciplinary hearings at the Office of Administrative Law and Rogers is represented by counsel. The staff member suggested the Department of Human Resources has addressed issues that do not touch the pending appeals.

Following the exchange, a commissioner asked staff to prepare a formal report on how employees who are directed into the employee assistance program (EAP) are treated with respect to compensation and disability. The commissioner said the report may be provided in closed session if necessary and expressed the view that "an individual that... cooperates, goes into an employee assistance program, should be able to be compensated in some way."

A county staff representative with HR responsibilities later clarified how state disability and EAP can interact: on a voluntary basis, employees can use accrued sick time or request medical leave and "could apply for disability independently," while involuntary participation or a suspension can complicate eligibility. The staff member emphasized that the state, not the county, makes the ultimate determination on state disability claims and that employees have the right to apply and appeal if denied.

What happens next: the board asked staff to prepare follow-up information and indicated willingness to receive the report in closed session if appropriate. Rogers' underlying administrative appeals and the Office of Administrative Law proceedings remain ongoing.