TAMPA, Fla. — The Department of Economic Opportunity's executive director, Dane Eagle, said when he took over the agency last fall he found out about the tough working conditions the staff had faced.

"I got here in September, after the height of the pandemic and just learning what they had gone through was incredible," said Eagle. "They're public servants who want to make things right and make things better."​ 

According to an Inspector General review that was released last month, Secretary Jonathan Satter, who was managing the agency at the time, said he was very proud of his fellow state employees.

"There were stretches of months where many folks worked 80+ hours a week and refused to take time off," he said. "After a while, I had to insist that people take some downtime." 

Satter said many of the managers who worked extra hours to get their fellow Floridians processed and paid did not receive overtime pay because they're on salary.

According to the report, the staff faced multiple COVID-19 outbreaks in the building and in other DEO locations which required sending everyone home and cleaning the facilities each time. There were also multiple bomb threats over the phone and multiple shooting threats through social media.

Many callers threatened suicide and homelessness along with non-stop personal contact with all team members.

"Turns out the staff all along have been behind the scenes putting their heart and soul into helping people," Eagle said. "I'm glad to see that report come out and Secretary Satter mention that." ​