EMPLOYER DISCRIMINATION; EVIDENCE OF UNLAWFUL MOTIVATION; NEXUS – Cursory Investigation

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No showing of disparate treatment of the employee, because choice of the investigatory level was made by the IAU. Given employee's litigious background, prior adverse actions, and multiple complaints to various high level CYA administrators, it is reasonable that the IAU would want to assure itself that the investigation was conducted by trained professionals, rather than the local part-time investigators. Weak showing of inadequate investigation prior to initiating the IAU investigation, supports, to some extent, an inference of unlawful motivation. No credible evidence with regard to any (1) inconsistent explanations of the employer's action or (2) departure(s) from established procedures or standards. After balancing the competing interests of the employer and the rights of the employee, the Board found little, if any, evidence that such conflicts between employee and her supervisors were the result of her protected activities.