Opinion ID: 901999
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Career Services Commission Appeal

Text: [¶ 23.] Williams filed a grievance with the CSC. She claimed that the Department of Agriculture did not have just cause to terminate her employment, but rather fired her in retaliation for complaining about sexually inappropriate comments made by a coworker. A hearing was held on April 17, 2008, in which Fridley, Holm, and Williams testified. Other witnesses included Lynne Valenti from the Bureau of Personnel, Karen Webber-Boyer, Tammy McGill-Bennett, Marjorie Gregg, and three of Williams's coworkers. In addition to the live testimony, the CSC accepted documentary evidence. On July 17, 2008, the CSC issued a memorandum decision finding that the Department of Agriculture had just cause to fire Williams. The CSC recognized that inappropriate comments were made in the workplace, but noted that such crudeness does not eliminate the need for accuracy and reliability. Findings of fact and conclusions of law were issued on September 5, 2008. [¶ 24.] Williams claims that the CSC's findings of fact were clearly erroneous. She further contends that the CSC erred when it concluded that Kurtenbach's comments did not affect her employment and that she was discharged for unsatisfactory work performance. The Department of Agriculture, on the other hand, claims that there was substantial evidence in the record to support the CSC's decision. As mentioned earlier, we no longer apply the substantial evidence test in reviewing agency decisions. See Sopko, 1998 SD 8, ¶ 7, 575 N.W.2d at 228-29. SDCL 1-26-36 requires us to give great weight to the factual findings of the agency and only reverse if such findings were clearly erroneous in light of the entire record. Here, the CSC heard live testimony. [¶ 25.] The CSC has the power to act as [a] grievance review board for career service employees[.] SDCL 3-6A-37. In doing so, the CSC may hold an evidentiary hearing and pass on whether there was legally sufficient evidence to support the claimed grievance. SDCL 3-6A-38. In resolving grievances involving the discipline of an employee, the career service commission shall determine and decide whether the action was made for good cause. SDCL 3-6A-38.1. [¶ 26.] From our review of the testimony and documentary evidence, the CSC's findings of fact were not clearly erroneous and it did not err when it concluded that there was just cause to support Williams's termination. Fridley and Holm testified that errors were noticed in Williams's work at the end of her six-month probationary period and that Williams was informed of these errors. She continued to receive on-the-job training, but to Fridley and Holm her progress remained slow and errors continued to be noticed beyond what they considered acceptable in the learning period. Fridley also testified concerning a Performance Planning and Review prepared for Williams on October 20, 2006, and the review was offered as evidence. It mentioned concerns regarding Williams's knowledge of the job, her need for improvement, and noted that she had trouble understanding basic program knowledge. Because her work performance did not improve after the review, Williams was placed on a work improvement plan in January 2007. As a result of this plan, Fridley met with Williams weekly and discussed ways she could improve her work. At the conclusion of the plan's duration, Fridley and the Department of Agriculture were not satisfied with Williams's performance and advised her in writing that disciplinary action could be taken. Ultimately, her employment was terminated based on unsatisfactory work performance. [¶ 27.] Williams does not claim her work was error free. Rather, she maintains that Fridley and Holm only scrutinized her work to set her up for termination after she complained of certain sexually inappropriate comments made by Kurtenbach. Similar to her complaints to the Division, Williams argued to the CSC that Kurtenbach's comments were made in July 2006, and the retaliatory actions of the Department of Agriculture began shortly thereafter. But these comments were actually made in 2005. Thus, we find no error in the CSC's ruling that Williams was not retaliated against by being discharged after she complained about Kurtenbach's comments. The evidence supports the CSC's findings that her employment was terminated for unsatisfactory work performance. [¶ 28.] Affirmed. [¶ 29.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and MEIERHENRY, and SEVERSON, Justices, and KERN, Circuit Judge, concur. [¶ 30.] KERN, Circuit Judge, sitting for ZINTER, Justice, disqualified.