EMPLOYER DISCRIMINATION; DEFENSES – Legitimate Business Purpose/Business Necessity

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PERB examines the entire record to determine whether the employer’s proffered reason was honestly invoked and, in fact, was the cause of its adverse action. (p. 19.) When an employer cites accusations or complaints that it did not believe in good faith to be true as evidence of an alternative, non-discriminatory reason, PERB will find such justifications pretext for retaliation. (Ibid.) Because the employer appeared to rely on an insufficient investigation when it accepted a witness’ complaint at face value despite the witness’ subsequent complaint contradicting the first, its proffered justification failed to establish that the first complaint was, in fact, the reason for taking adverse action. (pp. 19-20.)