Opinion ID: 178097
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Watkins’s Absences

Text: 6 Between October 18, 2002 and July 23, 2003, Watkins was absent from work sixteen times. On July 29, 2003, George Cruz, as the “Proposing Official,” signed a “Disciplinary Procedure Request Form” recommending Watkins’s “[p]robationary removal.” Cruz testified that he recommended Watkins’s termination “due to [a] record of excessive absenteeism.” The Disciplinary Request Form indicated that: (1) the reason for the requested action was “[o]ther (specify): AWOL”; and (2) Watkins’s absences adversely affected business activity and employee moral because they “put a strain on operational needs” and caused “already short staffs to take up the slack.”2 On the same date, Barton in Human Resources forwarded the Disciplinary Procedure Request Form to Bryant Chevalier, who signed it as the “Concurring Official.” On August 1, 2003, Watkins did not report for work. Instead, Watkins, who was being treated for bronchitis, gave David Cassell, his second-line supervisor, a doctor’s note indicating that he was on complete bed rest and could not return to work until August 8. By this time, Watkins had used all of his sick leave. Thus, Watkins requested and received annual leave for five days between August 3 and August 7, 2003. August 8 and 9 were Watkins’s regular days off. However, on 2 The Disciplinary Procedure Request Form stated that certain documents were attached, including a chronology of events, witness statements and Watkins’s medical documentation and leave records; however, the copy in the record does not have the attachments. 7 August 10, 2003, Watkins did not report to work as expected. Instead, from August 11 to August 15, 2003, Watkins called the Operations Center and reported that he was still sick and would be absent. Watkins did not submit a note to explain his continued absence after August 8. Starting August 10, Cassell made repeated attempts to contact Watkins, leaving messages on his cell phone and with his grandmother. Watkins testified that he did not return these calls because he was too sick to get out of bed and had turned his cell phone off. On August 15, 2003, Watkins again called the Operations Center to report that he was sick. Watkins was told that he could no longer call into the Operations Center and needed to call Cassell. However, Cassell was off work until August 17. On that date, Watkins called Cassell and told him that he was still sick and had returned to the doctor for more tests and a change in medication. Cassell responded that Watkins could not continue to call in sick and needed to provide documentation. Watkins gave Cassell his doctor’s phone number and suggested the doctor could fax Cassell the required documentation and a new return-to-work date. Watkins later confirmed with the doctor’s office manager that Cassell had called the doctor’s office, but not whether the doctor gave Cassell the needed 8 documentation.3 Watkins never provided TSA with a doctor’s note for any absences after August 8.