kasten performance plastics argued october decided march petitioner kasten brought antiretaliation suit former employer respondent fair labor standards act act provides minimum wage maximum hour overtime pay rules forbids employers discharge employee employee filed complaint alleging violation act related suit district found violated act placing timeclocks location prevented workers receiving credit time spent donning doffing protective gear suit kasten claims discharged orally complained company officials timeclocks district granted summary judgment concluding act antiretaliation provision cover oral complaints seventh circuit affirmed held scope statutory term filed complaint includes oral well written complaints pp interpretation statutory phrase depends upon reading whole statutory text considering statute purpose context consulting precedents authorities inform analysis dolan postal service text taken alone provide conclusive answer dictionary definitions filed contemplate writing others permit using file conjunction oral material addition dictionary definitions state statutes federal regulations sometimes contemplate oral filings contemporaneous judicial usage shows oral filings known phenomenon time act passage even filed considered alone might suggest narrow interpretation limited writings complaint suggests broad interpretation include oral complaint thus phrase taken answer interpretive question act references filed also resolve linguistic question provisions involve filed material virtually always writing others specifically require writing remainder like provision leave question unresolved since filed complaint lends linguistically broader oral interpretation use broader language statutes antiretaliation provisions indicate whether congress intend leave oral grievances unprotected text taken alone might might encompass oral complaints must look pp several functional considerations indicate congress intended antiretaliation provision cover oral well written complaints pp narrow interpretation undermine act basic objective prohibit labor conditions detrimental maintenance minimum standard living necessary health efficiency general workers act relies enforcement substantive standards information complaints received employees mitchell robert demario jewelry antiretaliation provision makes enforcement scheme effective preventing fear economic retaliation inducing workers quietly accept substandard conditions ibid congress want limit enforcement scheme effectiveness inhibiting use act complaint procedure find difficult reduce complaints writing particularly illiterate less educated overworked workers need act help time passage limiting provision scope written complaints prevent government agencies using hotlines interviews oral methods receive complaints insofar provision covers complaints made employers limiting reading discourage using informal workplace grievance procedures secure compliance act national labor relations act antiretaliation provision broadly interpreted protecting workers simply participate national labor relations board investigation nlrb scrivener similar enforcement needs related statute argue broad interpretation complaint act requirement employer receive fair notice employee complaint met oral well written complaints pp given delegation enforcement powers federal administrative agencies views meaning phrase given degree weight secretary labor consistently held view filed complaint covers oral written complaints equal employment opportunity commission set similar view compliance manual multiple briefs views reasonable consistent act length time held suggests reflect careful consideration post hoc rationalizatio motor vehicle mfrs assn state farm mut automobile ins pp engaging traditional statutory interpretation methods statute remain sufficiently ambiguous warrant application rule lenity pp consider alternative claim antiretaliation provision applies complaints filed government since claim raised certiorari briefs since resolution intelligent question issue caterpillar lewis pp vacated remanded breyer delivered opinion roberts kennedy ginsburg alito sotomayor joined scalia filed dissenting opinion thomas joined kagan took part consideration decision case kevin kasten petitioner performance plastics corporation writ certiorari appeals seventh circuit march justice breyer delivered opinion fair labor standards act act sets forth employment rules concerning minimum wages maximum hours overtime pay stat et seq act contains antiretaliation provision forbids employers discharge manner discriminate employee employee filed complaint instituted caused instituted proceeding related act testified testify proceeding served serve industry committee emphasis added must decide whether statutory term filed complaint includes oral well written complaints within scope conclude petitioner kevin kasten brought antiretaliation lawsuit former employer performance plastics corporation kasten says located timeclocks area kasten workers put take protective gear area carry assigned tasks location prevented workers receiving credit time spent putting taking work clothes contrary act requirements related suit district agreed kasten finding practice compensating time spent donning doffing certain required protective gear walking work areas violated act kasten performance plastics supp wd suit kasten claims unlawful retaliation says discharged orally complained officials timeclocks particular kasten says repeatedly called unlawful timeclock location attention accordance internal procedure see brief petitioner quoting code ethics business conduct imposing upon every employee responsibility report suspected violations applicable law becomes aware quoting employee policy handbook instructing employees questions complaints problems ontact supervisor immediately necessary take issue next level management local human resources manager human resources personnel regional headquarters level kasten adds raised concern shift supervisor illegal time clocks exclusion time come start stuff told human resources employee get challenged location lose told lead operator location illegal thinking starting lawsuit placement time clocks told human resources manager operations manager thought location illegal company lose record wd doc pp deposition kevin kasten activity kasten concludes led company discipline december dismiss presents different version events denies kasten made significant complaint timeclock location says dismissed kasten simply kasten repeatedly warned failed record comings goings timeclock present purposes accept kasten version contested events valid see scott harris district entered summary judgment favor supp wd doubted kasten ability prove facts alleged thought act protect oral complaints appeal seventh circuit agreed district act antiretaliation provision cover oral complaints kasten sought certiorari light conflict among circuits whether oral complaint protected granted kasten petition compare hagan echostar satellite antiretaliation provision covers oral complaints lambert ackerley en banc lambert genesee hospital antiretaliation provision cover informal complaints supervisors see also pacheco whiting farms antiretaliation provision covers unofficial assertion rights eeoc white son enterprises moore freeman assuming without discussion oral complaints covered brennan maxey yamaha ii sole question presented whether oral complaint violation fair labor standards act protected conduct act provision pet cert act protects employees filed complaint interpretation phrase depends upon reading whole statutory text considering purpose context statute consulting precedents authorities inform analysis dolan postal service analysis leads us conclude language provision considered isolation may open competing interpretations considering provision conjunction purpose context leads us conclude one interpretation permissible begin text statute word filed different relevant meanings different contexts dictionary definitions word contemplate writing see webster new international dictionary ed def file deliver paper instrument proper officer received kept file among records office emphasis added webster ninth new collegiate dictionary def one definition file place among official records prescribed law dictionaries provide different definitions permit use word file conjunction oral material one example file oral statement enters matter order business funk wagnalls new standard dictionary english language rev ed def file present regular way judicial legislative body shall go upon records order business possibility significant means dictionary meanings even considered alone necessarily limit scope statutory phrase written complaints cf crawford metropolitan government nashville davidson slip looking limits linguistic phrase rather exemplif ies application addition dictionary definitions found legislators administrators judges sometimes used word file conjunction oral statements thus state statutes sometimes contemplate oral filings see alaska stat file verbal written complaint cal health safety code ann west file administrative complaint orally writing code filing grievance orally writing code ann file grievance person may submit oral written complaint ind code file grievance orally writing rev stat tit filed oral request miss code ann file written oral complaint mo rev stat complaint filed person shall write cause written grievance shall state orally rev stat oral written complaint filed stat ann west written oral complaint may filed ins law ann west file grievance orally pub health law ann west supp file grievance orally stat tit purdon file written oral complaint tex ins code ann west oral written complaint must file rev code complaints filed result either oral written complaint regulations promulgated various federal agencies sometimes permit complaints filed orally see cfr iling claim may proceed orally writing cfr file grievance either orally writing file grievance either orally writing file oral written grievance cfr iling motions must writing orally record italics omitted cfr ii file appeal either orally writing review contemporaneous judicial usage cf utah evans shows oral filings known phenomenon act passed see reed oil cain ark appellee filed oral complaint tingler lahti complaint subsequently filed either oral written ex parte mosgrove cr complaint filed oral complaint town marshal indian fred state filed oral motion quash dunn state cr filed oral demurrer morrison lewis app filed oral motion demurring brock cullum tex civ app filed oral motion quash fike allen tex civ app filed oral pleadings filings may often made writing see ritter finding words file claim refund require written request context tax code interested filing complaint even word filed considered alone might suggest narrow interpretation limited writings phrase complaint suggests broad interpretation include oral complaint see republic iraq beaty slip upshot phrase taken answer interpretive question look appearances word filed act see mci telecommunications american telephone telegraph examining contextual indications meaning term word variant appears numerous provisions appearance elsewhere act resolve linguistic question us provisions involve filed material unlike complaint kind virtually always writing see employers must file unexpired certificate emphasis added secretary must file record industry committee emphasis added ibid industry committee must file findings recommendations others specifically require writing see requiring employee consent writing join collective action filed emphasis added remainder leave written question unresolved provision us see prohibiting stay unless movant file undertaking emphasis added employee may file petition review special wage rate emphasis added looking beyond act find statutes contain antiretaliation provisions statutes however use somewhat different language see protecting employee filed charges given testimony protecting opposed unlawful practice emphasis added similar see also supp iii provided employer information relating violation emphasis added similar filed made complaint emphasis added notified employer emphasis added provided information emphasis added language broader phrase us given fact phrase us lends linguistically broader oral interpretation use broader language elsewhere may mean congress wanted limit scope phrase us writings congress believe different phraseology made significant difference respect language alone tell us whether congress intending protect orally expressed grievances elsewhere intend leave oral grievances unprotected bottom line text taken alone provide conclusive answer interpretive question phrase filed complaint might might encompass oral complaints must look several functional considerations indicate congress intended antiretaliation provision cover oral well written complaint first interpretation limited provision coverage written complaints undermine act basic objectives act seeks prohibit labor conditions detrimental maintenance minimum standard living necessary health efficiency general workers part setting forth substantive wage hour overtime standards relies enforcement standards upon continuing detailed federal supervision inspection payrolls upon information complaints received employees seeking vindicate rights claimed denied mitchell robert demario jewelry antiretaliation provision makes enforcement scheme effective preventing fear economic retaliation inducing workers quietly accept substandard conditions ibid congress want limit enforcement scheme effectiveness inhibiting use act complaint procedure find difficult reduce complaints writing particularly illiterate less educated overworked workers president franklin roosevelt pointed time workers need act help see message congress may doc seeking bill help poorest toil factory years prior passage act illiteracy rates particularly high among poor see gordon gordon literacy america world war conscripts illiterate dept commerce bureau census sixteenth census population labor force sample statistics occupational characteristics manufacturing laborers less five years schooling rates remained high certain industries many years act passage example national war labor board wrote many plants high degree illiteracy writing grievances employees works substantial hardship plants considerable dirt special clothes must worn often practicable write grievances work hours termination report national war labor board limit scope antiretaliation provision filing written complaints also take needed flexibility charged act enforcement prevent government agencies using hotlines interviews oral methods receiving complaints insofar antiretaliation provision covers complaints made employers matter need decide see infra discourage use desirable informal workplace grievance procedures secure compliance act cf burlington industries ellerth reading title vii encourage development effective grievance procedures deter misconduct mcpherson gates rogers resolving grievances practical approach describing significant benefits unwritten complaints given need effective enforcement national labor relations act nlra broadly interpreted language nlra antiretaliation provision filed charges given testimony protecting workers neither filed charges called formally testify simply participate national labor relations board investigation nlrb scrivener emphasis added similar enforcement needs related statute argue interpretation word complaint provide broad rather narrow protection employee without pressing statutory language limit see also tennessee coal iron muscoda local act remedial humanitarian purpose cautions narrow grudging interpretations language replies worker protection relevant statutory objective act also seeks establish enforcement system fair employers employer must fair notice employee making complaint subject employer later claim retaliation oral complaints suffice adds employers often left state uncertainty whether employee particularly employee seems unusually angry moment fact making complaint act violation letting steam agree statute requires fair notice although dictionary definitions statutes regulations judicial opinions considered see supra distinguish writings oral statements suggest filing serious occasion rather triviality phrase filed complaint contemplates degree formality certainly point recipient given fair notice grievance lodged reasonably understand matter part business concerns moreover statute prohibits employers discriminating employee employee filed complaint emphasis added difficult see employer know employee made complaint discriminate complaint also believe fair notice requirement necessarily mean notice must writing oral argument government said complaint filed reasonable objective person understood employee put employer notice employee asserting statutory rights act tr oral arg agree fall within scope antiretaliation provision complaint must sufficiently clear detailed reasonable employer understand light content context assertion rights protected statute call protection standard met however oral complaints well written ones second given congress delegation enforcement powers federal administrative agencies also give degree weight views meaning enforcement language see vesting enforcement power secretary labor reorganization plan app transferring equal employment opportunity commission eeoc enforcement antiretaliation provision part equal pay act enforcement responsibilities skidmore swift giving weight persuasive articulation views within agency area expertise secretary labor consistently held view words filed complaint cover oral well written complaints department labor articulated view enforcement action filed many years ago goldberg zenger cch lc pp utah subsequently reaffirmed view briefs see brief secretary labor amicus curiae supporting petition rehearing suggestion rehearing en banc lambert ackerley etc pp recently acted accordance view creating hotline receive oral complaints see dept labor compliance assistance law fair labor standards act flsa http visited mar available clerk case file directing participants wish file complaint contact local office call department wage hour help line eeoc set forth similar view compliance manual vol multiple briefs see brief eeoc amicus curiae support petition rehearing suggestion rehearing en banc lambert ackerley etc pp brief appellee eeoc white son enterprises pp agency views reasonable consistent act length time agencies held suggests reflect careful consideration post hoc rationalizatio motor vehicle mfrs assn state farm mut automobile ins consequently add force conclusion skidmore supra cf mead sometimes finds judicial deference intended even absence rulemaking authority babbitt sweet home chapter communities great agency views law counsels deference clarify otherwise ambiguous statutory provisions finally note invokes rule lenity support written complaint interpretation rule applies primarily interpretation criminal statutes leads us favor lenient interpretation criminal statute consulting traditional canons statutory construction left ambiguous statute shabani agree violate antiretaliation provision us subject criminal sanction said rule lenity apply statute criminal sanctions applied noncriminal context see leocal ashcroft engaging traditional methods statutory interpretation find statute remains sufficiently ambiguous warrant application rule lenity alternatively claims prevail kasten complained private employer government view antiretaliation provision applies complaints filed government advanced claim lower courts held contrary supp said nothing response kasten petition certiorari indeed mention claim filed brief merits normally consider separate legal question raised certiorari briefs see rule caterpillar lewis see reason make exception resolution employer question predicate intelligent resolution question granted certiorari decide see ibid quoting ohio robinette say decide question separately done thus state view merits alternative claim cf post scalia dissenting conclude seventh circuit erred determining oral complaints fall within scope phrase filed complaint act antiretaliation provision leave lower courts decide whether kasten able satisfy act notice requirement vacate circuit judgment remand case proceedings consistent opinion ordered justice kagan took part consideration decision case kevin kasten petitioner performance plastics corporation writ certiorari appeals seventh circuit march justice scalia justice thomas joins dissenting seventh circuit found employer held fair labor standards act flsa covers written complaints employer affirm judgment ground cover complaints employer flsa retaliation provision shall unlawful discharge manner discriminate employee employee filed complaint instituted caused instituted proceeding related chapter testified testify proceeding served serve industry committee ibid phrase central outcome filed complaint courts kasten asserted claim retaliation based solely allegations filed oral complaints employer argued retaliation provision protects complaints writing made judicial administrative bodies agree least second part contention plain meaning critical phrase context appears make clear retaliation provision contemplates official grievance filed agency oral complaints even formal written complaints employee employer isolation word complaint cover kasten objection often expansive meaning connoting xpression grief regret pain resentment webster new international dictionary ed hereinafter webster time flsa passed still today word used legal context borne specialized meaning formal allegation charge party made presented appropriate officer ibid see also cambridge dictionary american english formal statement government authority legal cause complain way treated oxford english dictionary ed statement injury grievance laid judicial authority purposes prosecution redress several reasons think word bears specialized meaning first every use word complaint flsa refers official filing governmental body sections state right bring particular types actions shall terminate upon filing complaint secretary labor clarifies statute limitations begins running actions recover unpaid wages date complaint filed provisions unquestionably use complaint narrow legal sense identical words used different parts statute presumed meaning absent contrary indication ibp alvarez sullivan stroop one thing expand meaning complaint include complaints filed agency instead quite something else wrench legal context entirely include employee objection employer second word complaint appears part phrase filed complaint thus draws meaning verb connected choice word filed rather broader alternative like made connote seventh circuit believed need consider something writing least suggests degree formality consistent legal action inconsistent least less regulated work environment complaints noteworthy every definition verb filed opinion provides whether supports inclusion oral content envisions formal prescribed process delivery submission ante comparing example webster file deliver paper instrument proper officer funk wagnalls new standard dictionary english language rev ed file present regular way judicial legislative body moreover law uses familiar legal expressions familiar legal sense henry suppose possible speak filing complaint employer assuredly common usage thus antiretaliation provision mine health safety act used phrase context includes complaints agency complaints employer use filed alone supplemented made boot specified including complaint notifying mine operator alleged danger safety health violation third phrase filed complaint appears alongside three protected activities institut ing caus ing instituted proceeding related chapter testif ying proceeding serv ing industry committee since three activities involves interaction governmental authority fairly attribute characteristic phrase filed complaint well several items list share attribute counsel favor interpreting items possessing attribute well beecham finally version flsa creating private rights action employer violations see stat create private right action retaliation added see stat administrator wage hour division department labor enforce retaliation provision see stat seem strange require employee go administrator establish punish retaliation intracompany complaint require complaint filed administrator first meaning phrase filed complaint clear light context accordingly need rely abstractions congressional purpose nevertheless kasten argues protecting intracompany complaints best accords purpose flsa assure fair compensation covered employees purposes advanced internal complaints lead voluntary compliance reply brief petitioner legislation pursues ends costs rodriguez per curiam congress may protected intracompany complaints reason provide private cause action retaliation complaints unwilling expose employers litigation inability dismiss unsatisfactory workers additional step entail limitation retaliation provision agency complaints may attempt achieve benefits regulation right point costs benefits exceed value benefits easterbrook statutes domains chi rev deciding whether oral complaint may filed opinion examines modern state federal statutes presumably cover complaints filed employer relevance provisions whether flsa covers complaints none achieves result use term filed complaint use language unmistakably includes complaints employers see prohibiting retaliation employees oppos unlawful practice suggestion recent statutes cover intracompany complaints provision adopted act deemed unacceptable jurisprudence sometimes sanctioned living constitution never approved living code congress enacted must applied according terms according modern congress deem kasten argues defer department labor equal employment opportunity commission eeoc interpretations claims agencies construed protect intracompany complaints almost half century litigating positions enforcement actions reply brief petitioner also argues although department labor lacks authority issue regulations implementing authority several similarly worded provisions interpreted statutes include intracompany complaints even ambiguous deference still unwarranted apply new jurisprudence deference appropriate congress given agency authority make rules carrying force law see gonzales oregon deference improper eeoc authority although secretary labor subordinates authority issue regulations various provisions flsa see general authority issue regulations interpreting act specific authority issue regulations interpreting presumably reason opinion seems suggest skidmore deference appropriate see skidmore swift doctrine agencies views extent power persuade christensen harris county quoting skidmore supra reasons stated agencies views lack power persuade ii opinion claims whether covers intracompany complaints fairly included question presented argument although raised made response kasten petition certiorari citing rule caterpillar lewis opinion says normally consider separate legal question raised certiorari briefs ante regularly however circumstances obtain curiously enough caterpillar case cited one instance rule permissive rather mandatory objection consideration question presented based occurred proceedings may deemed waived unless called attention brief opposition emphasis added accordingly often permitted parties defend judgment grounds raised brief opposition predicate intelligent resolution question presented therefore fairly included therein ohio robinette internal quotation marks omitted see also vance terrazas kasten petition certiorari phrases question presented follows oral complaint violation fair labor standards act protected conduct provision pet cert surely word complaint question must assigned implied addressee presumably include complaint judge judy plausible addressee given facts case employer rewording question presented brief opposition even specific employee alleging solely orally asserted objections employer complaint within meaning brief opposition emphasis added moreover rule question presented deemed comprise every subsidiary question fairly included therein whether intracompany complaints protected least subsidiary kasten formulation explicitly included question also decided courts briefed clear benefit additional briefing provide moreover whether covers intracompany complaints predicate intelligent resolution question presented case opinion demonstrates point claiming remains open question whether intracompany complaints covered opinion adopts test filed complaint assumes yes answer makes sense otherwise employee says deemed filed complaint reasonable objective person understood employee employer notice employee asserting statutory rights act ante quoting tr oral arg utterly atextual standard obviously designed counter argument oral complaints allowed employers often left state uncertainty whether employee fact making complaint letting steam ante course intracompany complaints excluded concern nonexistent filing complaint judicial administrative body quite obviously unambiguous assertion one rights need lower courts question whether complaint sufficiently clear ante carries requisite degree formality ante provides fair notice whatever terms may require test adopts amply disproves contention decide question separately ante makes little sense consider question present case neither oral written complaints employers protected cf grubbs issue advisory opinion scope retaliation provision covering complaints employers congress enacted provision footnotes kasten opinion ante argue use modifier phrase filed complaint suggests gress meant define word complaint expansively modifier cause word context narrow become broad phrase cash check bank refer river bank even blood bank section original flsa since repealed charged industry committees recommending minimum wages certain industries department labor stat order perform function industry committees empowered among things hear witnesses receive evidence kasten argues excluding intracompany complaints make phrases filed complaint instituted caused instituted proceeding redundant employee may file complaint administrator result proceeding yet done employer takes retaliatory action moreover substance retaliation provision act shed light upon congress sought achieve flsa relatively contemporaneous provision national labor relations act stat codified cover retaliation complaints see nlrb scrivener perhaps actual quantum deference measured opinion unclear seemingly intentionally says giving degree weight secretary eeoc views given congress delegation enforcement powers federal administrative agencies ante never explicitly level deference applied includes mysterious citation mead along parenthetical saying sometimes judicial deference intended even absence rulemaking authority ante say mysterious mead clearly held rulemaking authority necessary full chevron deference see chevron natural resources defense council chosen interpret referring skidmore deference rather chevron deference something order minimize ongoing obfuscation area administrative law see mead supra scalia dissenting view doctrine called incoherent linguistically practically defer subordinate one judgment another one persuaded another one judgment accords room deferral agreement speaking skidmore deference persuasive agency position nothing confuse