Date: 201702
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZLA.ARTCC, CA
Aircraft: No Aircraft
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Automation Air Traffic Control; Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Airspace Structure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was working R35. I was required to give 15 Miles in Trail to LAS; 10 Miles in Trail to LAX and turbulence was reported at many of my altitudes. The traffic volume and complexity were low; but my attention was definitely required. I had noticed activity going on around my physical self but wasn't sure exactly what was happening. I knew that sector 08 was being moved to sector 53 for what I assumed was for tech ops activity on the MID shift. Sector 08's traffic began to be handed off to my sector which was confusing and it also made me suspect that the combine sector message input by the Front Line Manager (FLM) had opened sector 53; which was my airspace. I voiced this concern to the FLM and did not get a response. Configuration at the time Sector 53 was combined at Sector 35. I needed to ship an aircraft to sector 08 but was concerned that the correct frequencies were not assigned to sector 53 since this has been a problem in the past. I was also still concerned about 53 not being assigned to my sector so I asked the FLM '... can you explain to us what is going on with our sectors?'. He angrily told me 'You know what's going on!'. I was taken aback by his response and was frankly worried additional questioning would result in further hostility. I knew my priority was to resolve these situations but I was at a loss as to what to do. Then Sector 36 displayed a datablock to what should have been my sector; but it populated at Sector 53. Sector 36 and Sector 53 reported this behavior to the FLM. The FLM proceeded to enter approximately 5 combine sector messages into the system experimenting with our sectors to try to find the right message. This action made me very uncomfortable; more than I already was. The problem wasn't resolved and I advised the FLM that I was not comfortable working the sector with half of the airspace assigned to another controller. He ordered us to go into the MID configuration. I'm not sure what to advise; other than to train FLM's to be more cautious and deliberate when inputting sector messages. This is not the first time this FLM has disregarded safety and the well-being of the operation in our area. This FLM's anger was also very distracting and uncomfortable; not a position I like to be put in when I am responsible for the safety of aircraft.




Synopsis: A Center Controller reported the Supervisor was making incorrect computer system entries to combine and de-combine sectors causing confusion.