Seitz v. State Ex Rel. Albina Human Resources Center & the Department of Human Resources

788 P.2d 1004, 100 Or. App. 665, 1990 Ore. App. LEXIS 211, 57 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 41,176
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedMarch 14, 1990
DocketA8411-06886; CA A44440
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 788 P.2d 1004 (Seitz v. State Ex Rel. Albina Human Resources Center & the Department of Human Resources) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Seitz v. State Ex Rel. Albina Human Resources Center & the Department of Human Resources, 788 P.2d 1004, 100 Or. App. 665, 1990 Ore. App. LEXIS 211, 57 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 41,176 (Or. Ct. App. 1990).

Opinions

[667]*667WARREN, J.

Plaintiff petitions for review of our decision affirming the judgment without opinion. 96 Or App 547, 773 P2d 28 (1989). We treat the petition as one for reconsideration, ORAP 9.15, and allow it in the light of Sheets v. Knight, 308 Or 220, 779 P2d 1000 (1989), which held that Oregon recognizes the concept of “constructive discharge.”

Plaintiff argues that the trial court used the wrong standard of causation in holding that she was not constructively discharged from employment. Defendant argues that plaintiff has no statutory cause of action under ORS chapter 659, because the Workers’ Compensation Law provides her exclusive remedy. Defendant also argues that, if we reverse, it is entitled to a setoff equal to the amount paid on plaintiffs workers’ compensation claim.

Plaintiff began her employment with the Albina Human Resources Center (Center) of the Department of Human Resources (DHR) in May, 1980, as an office supervisor. Her supervisor was the Center manager, Winchester, and she worked for the assistant manager, Maher. Her performance was reviewed by Winchester in November, 1980, 1981 and 1982, with a rating of satisfactory or better.1 She disagreed with her November, 1982, performance rating and requested a review. There was evidence of some interpersonal conflict in December, 1982, between plaintiff and some coworkers and, also, of plaintiffs disagreement with certain management decisions during that time.

On December 29, 1982, plaintiff filed a complaint, alleging race and sex discrimination by Winchester and unresponsiveness by management to her complaints of being harassed by other workers. The Civil Rights Division of the Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI) later ruled that her complaint was unfounded.2

On January 28,1983, Maher requested by memo that [668]*668Winchester transfer or terminate plaintiff. The memo described plaintiffs work as error prone* showing poor judgment and progressively worsening. He described her attitude after December 1, 1982, as belligerent, noncooperative and progressively disruptive. On the same date, Winchester wrote a memorandum to Bieberle, supervisor of the Center, requesting that plaintiff be removed from the Center. His memo included reference to her complaint:

“My further justification for [her] removal at this time, is the fact of pendency of her Civil Rights Complaint. The ramifications of this matter preclude any reasonable expectation or prospect that a compatible work environment can be maintained.”

As a result of Winchester’s memorandum, plaintiff was suspended from work for two weeks, effective February 1, 1983. She appealed the suspension to the Employment Relations Board (ERB). Defendant changed the suspension to administrative leave with pay as the result of a negotiated settlement of plaintiffs grievance. Instead of returning to the Center, plaintiff was temporarily transferred, at her request, to the Adult and Family Services Division. On about May 25, 1983, she was notified that she would have to return to the Center as of July 1,1983.

On June 23,1983, plaintiff filed a workers’ compensation claim for stress from her job experiences at the Center. As a result of the claim, SAIF requested a report from plaintiffs doctor and an independent psychiatric examination. Her doctor stated that she had a history of high blood pressure, which had been under control as of May, 1982, but which had reached unacceptable levels during 1983 because of stress from job-related interpersonal conflicts. He recommended that she not work at the Center again. The psychiatrist concluded that plaintiff had pre-existing emotional and physical problems that were aggravated by work stress.

Plaintiff returned to the Center on July 5,1983, with Maher as her direct supervisor. She agreed to a new position description and work plan developed by Maher, which removed her from management decisionmaking, except for supervision over the receptionist. She had other clerical duties, including maintenance of personnel files, which she testified were moved to Winchester’s office and kept under [669]*669lock and key. She also testified that she was constantly watched, that daily records of her activities were kept and that she did not receive the help that she needed.

On July 7, two days after returning to work, she filed a second complaint with BOLI, alleging retaliation for making the first claim and citing her suspension and differential treatment before and after her return to the Center. On July 6, 1984, BOLI held that there was substantial evidence that the suspension was retaliatory. BOLI found that daily records were kept of her activities, but not those of other employees, but it found the evidence inconclusive about whether the changes in plaintiffs duties and treatment were retaliatory or an effort to mitigate her job stresses.

There was extensive evidence of plaintiffs increased conflicts with management and her co-workers after her return to the Center. Maher gave plaintiff a written warning, dated September 26, 1983, stating that her work had been unsatisfactory since her return. The warning listed performance deficiencies, including a failure to complete assignments in an adequate and timely manner, a reluctance to respond to constructive criticism, unauthorized managerial actions and disruptive behavior. On November 17, plaintiff received an unsatisfactory performance evaluation and a copy of a letter from Maher to Green, Assistant Director of DHR, recommending a salary decrease for thirty days, to be followed by dismissal if there were “further episodes of similar infractions.” Shortly after receiving the evaluation, plaintiff became ill and left work. While she was off work due to the illness, she received a letter from Green, dated November 21, 1983, confirming that her salary would be decreased for thirty days due to inefficiency, stating that her performance would be reviewed by Maher after thirty days and warning that further episodes of infractions would result in dismissal.

On November 24, plaintiffs doctor recommended that she take two weeks off because of stress. Plaintiff requested a hearing before ERB on the ground that the pay reduction was not in good faith but in retaliation for her discrimination complaints. In early December, defendant granted her further medical leave. On December 16, while plaintiff was on leave, Winchester wrote to Green stating that plaintiffs work record and attitude had not improved since [670]*670the disciplinary action and recommending her termination. Green instead notified plaintiff that her salary reduction would continue until she had worked for 30 days, so that her performance could be re-evaluated.

In late January, 1984, plaintiffs personal physician informed Green that she could not return to work at the Center. Green informed her that she would be on leave without pay until a vacancy should occur in another part of the agency, and plaintiff applied for unemployment benefits. After notice of that application, DHR sent plaintiff a letter accepting her resignation and rescinding the pay reduction. ERB dismissed the appeal of her salary reduction.

In March, 1984, unemployment benefits were awarded. In November, 1984, plaintiff filed this action under ORS 659.121

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788 P.2d 1004, 100 Or. App. 665, 1990 Ore. App. LEXIS 211, 57 Empl. Prac. Dec. (CCH) 41,176, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/seitz-v-state-ex-rel-albina-human-resources-center-the-department-of-orctapp-1990.