Opinion ID: 170494
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Subjective Reasons

Text: Mr. Matthews next argues that several of the defendants’ justifications are subjective in nature, and this subjectivity constitutes further evidence of pretext. Specifically, Mr. Matthews argues that failure to “multi-task,” “slow” work, and “excessive” personal calls are reasons tied only to Ms. Biehl’s perception and not to objective criteria. We have held that, under certain circumstances, using subjective criteria in a termination decision may be relevant evidence of pretext. See Plotke, 405 F.3d at 1106. Here, however, we agree with the District Court that, to the extent the defendants’ articulated reasons are subjective in nature, they are supported by objective facts. Cf. id. (holding that employer’s reliance on a belief that plaintiff 5 Mr. Matthews also contends that purportedly conflicting evidence regarding the date that Ms. Biehl informed Ms. Long of her (Ms. Biehl’s) decision to terminate Mr. Matthews raises an inference of pretext. Because this argument was not raised below, we decline to consider it here. See Rosewood Servs., Inc. v. Sunflower Diversified Servs., Inc., 413 F.3d 1163, 1167 (10th Cir. 2005). -10- intended to deceive the employer was evidence of pretext when the decisionmakers admitted plaintiff “very well may not have attempted to deceive them” and that “they had no real solid proof that was her intent”). For instance, Ms. Biehl testified that Mr. Matthews waited until later in the day to shut down the terminals of customers that had insufficient funds, that she received complaints concerning his failure to process credit checks, and that she personally observed his failure to answer the telephone when he was engaged in other tasks. Unlike subjective criteria used in some hiring and promotion decisions, see Bauer v. Bailar, 647 F.2d 1037, 1046 (10th Cir. 1981), the defendants have proffered termination justifications with reasonable specificity, and they have sufficiently articulated bases for Mr. Matthews’s termination. See id.