The Brief Chicago's Inspector General is investigating a birthday celebration for Chicago Department of Aviation First Deputy Commissioner Tracey Payne after employees received an email and flyer soliciting cash donations for the event. The invitation, sent by a senior aviation department official, encouraged employees to contribute money for a catered luncheon. A source said some workers gave between $30 and $50 each, raising concerns about potential pressure on subordinates to contribute. Ethics experts say workplace cash collections for supervisors can create coercion concerns, and Chicago ethics guidelines prohibit superiors from pressuring employees to give gifts. The Department of Aviation has referred the matter to the Inspector General for review.



It's always fun to celebrate the boss's birthday. At least until the boss's employees are asked to pony up cash.

That's what happened recently at Chicago's Department of Aviation, where some workers were stunned to be invited to contribute money for the birthday celebration of a top department official.

The backstory:

Fox Chicago has learned the office birthday party for the city's First Deputy Aviation Commissioner is now under investigation by Chicago's Inspector General. That investigation was triggered after employees who work for the commissioner received an email and flyer with a rather unusual request.

Tracey Payne has served as the Chicago Department of Aviation's First Deputy Commissioner since being appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson a little more than a year ago.

On May 19, Aviation Department employees received an email and a flyer inviting them  to the birthday luncheon celebrating our First Deputy at the official First Deputy Day. 

At the bottom of the flyer are the words  Donations accepted. 

 They should know that they're not supposed to send something like this out,  said Alisa Kaplan, the executive director of reform for Illinois.

We showed Kaplan the flyer, which was attached to an email sent to city employees by Bernie Williams, a top official at the Department of Aviation. The email promises:  ...a fun aft

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