Opinion ID: 790046
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Secondary Indicia

Text: 45 Finally, PSC argues that the status of the revenue-protection workers as supervisors is shown by secondary indicia — indicia not included in the statutory definition of supervisor but that often accompany the status of supervisor. The company points to the revenue-protection workers being salaried employees and being supervised by Xcel energy officials located in Minnesota. Secondary indicia, however, are of marginal importance in resolving whether a worker is a supervisor. In NLRB v. Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., 334 F.3d 478 (6th Cir.2003), the Sixth Circuit recently observed: 46 Although we have not previously determined the weight to be afforded secondary indicia of supervisory status, other Circuits have held that secondary indicia should be relied upon in limited circumstances. See, e.g., N. Mont. Health Care Ctr. v. NLRB, 178 F.3d 1089, 1096 n. 6 (9th Cir.1999) (The `secondary indicia' of supervisory authority are only relevant `[i]n borderline cases.') (quoting NLRB v. Chicago Metallic Corp., 794 F.2d 527, 531 (9th Cir.1986)); NLRB v. Attleboro Assocs., Ltd., 176 F.3d 154, 163 n. 5 (3d Cir.1999) (explaining that the Third Circuit relies on the statutory text and not secondary indicia in determining statutory status); E & L Transport Co. v. NLRB, 85 F.3d 1258, 1270 (7th Cir.1996) (Although not determinative on their own, where one of the enumerated indicia in § 152(11) is present, secondary indicia support a finding of statutory supervisor.). But see Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v. NLRB, 253 F.3d 203, 209 (5th Cir.2001) ([S]econdary indicia of supervisory authority may be pertinent....). Moreover, the Board has held consistently that secondary indicia of supervisory status are not dispositive without evidence of at least one primary indicator of supervisory status. See, e.g., Billows Elec. Supply of Northfield, Inc., 311 NLRB 878 n. 2, 1993 WL 191462 (1993); Juniper Indus., Inc., 311 NLRB 109, 110, 1993 WL 176135 (1993). 47 Id. at 487-88. Regardless of whether we might find secondary indicia persuasive in a proper case, the indicia here are too unremarkable to affect the result.