UW employee given leave after talking to media

The University of Washington has placed an employee on administrative leave after she talked to the media about a controversial budget-cut absorbing method.

Marla Bradeen, an analyst with the facilities services department, was mentioned in a seattletimes.com story last week about the department's plan to lay off 17 custodians and eliminate the night shift for many remaining workers. While the change would cut costs, it could also force night-shift custodians to quit other daytime jobs or find new daytime caretakers for children or elderly parents.

Bradeen, an analyst with the facilities services department, received a letter Friday informing her she was under investigation for releasing confidential and sensitive information without permission. The letter was dated June 11, the same day UW custodians and students held a rally to protest the shift switch.

Bradeen answered an emphatic, "No," today when asked whether she felt she disclosed confidential or sensitive information to media outlets.

Employees from UW's human resources department said they do not comment on the personnel matters.

Bradeen said she met with human resource employees today. When her request to record the meeting was denied, she asked the department to send the allegations against her in writing. She said she was informed that there were no allegations made against her but that an investigation was being launched.

"I'd like to hear what I'm accused of, but apparently no one knows," she said.

The Seattle Times was the only media outlet that mentioned Bradeen by name, although she says she also spoke with radio station KUOW-94.9.

Bradeen was quoted in two news releases by a group organizing the rally, the Anti-Budget Cuts Coalition. The news releases quoted Bradeen saying the shift switch was an empty gesture to "leave the impression" that the department needed more funding. Financial information released to the media, such as the salaries of managers and the department's budget, also was attributed to her.

Lindsay Toler: 206-464-2463 or ltoler@seattletimes.com