The OIG investigated allegations that a Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) manager reprised against a BSEE employee for engaging in protected activities.
We found that the employee engaged in the protected activities and that the manager knew of the complaints made to our office and to the Equal Employment Opportunity Office when the personnel actions were taken. We found, however, that the employee routinely made negative comments about BSEE managers and employees and had engaged in conduct that others perceived as harassing and hostile, and that the manager would have taken personnel action against the employee because of the employee’s misconduct, regardless of whether the employee had engaged in the protected activities.