Complainant,v.Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General, Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Prisons), Agency.Download PDFEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionFeb 20, 20150120130639 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 20, 2015) Copy Citation U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 , Complainant, v. Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General, Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Prisons), Agency. Appeal No. 0120130639 Agency No. P-2011-0948 DECISION Complainant appeals to the Commission from the Agency’s final decision dated October 22, 2012, finding no discrimination concerning his complaint alleging employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. §2000e et seq. For the following reasons, we AFFIRM the Agency’s final decision finding of no discrimination. BACKGROUND In his complaint, dated September 21, 2011, Complainant, a GS-11, Case Manager, at the Agency’s Federal Correctional Institution, Manchester, Kentucky, alleged discrimination based on sex (male) when on September 20, 2011, his Warden issued him a letter of reprimand. After completion of the investigation of the complaint, Complainant requested a final Agency decision without a hearing. The Agency thus issued its final Agency decision concluding that it asserted legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for its action, which Complainant failed to rebut. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS As this is an appeal from a decision issued without a hearing, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.110(b), the Agency’s decision is subject to de novo review by the Commission. 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(a). See Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614, at Chapter 9, § VI.A. (November 9, 1999) (explaining that the de novo standard of review “requires that the Commission examine the record without regard to the factual and legal determinations of the previous decision maker,” and that EEOC “review the 0120130639 2 documents, statements, and testimony of record, including any timely and relevant submissions of the parties, and . . . issue its decision based on the Commission’s own assessment of the record and its interpretation of the law”). After a review of the record, assuming arguendo that Complainant established a prima facie case of discrimination, we find that the Agency articulated legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for the alleged reprimand. The record indicates that on July 15, 2011, Complainant’s Unit Manager issued him a notice of proposal to suspend him for five days for his unprofessional conduct and failure to follow policy. Specifically, the Unit Manager indicated in the notice that in April 2010, Complainant made a comment to a female unit secretary to the effect of either “licking or touching his balls;” in May 2010, he walked past the window of the secretary and blew kisses at her; and on January 28, 2011, he, admitted by him, allowed an inmate to make an unmonitored phone call from his office in violation of the Agency policy. Thereafter, on September 20, 2011, Complainant’s Warden decided to issue Complainant the letter of reprimand at issue instead of the suspension as proposed by the Unit Manager because she believed that the reprimand would correct his behavior. Therein, the Warden indicated that the incident concerning the charge of Complainant’s unprofessional conduct was witnessed by other staff and Complainant, by his own admission, allowed the phone call by the inmate as charged.1 After a review of the record, we find that Complainant failed to show that the Agency’s articulated reasons were a mere pretext for discrimination. Furthermore, we find that Complainant failed to show that he was treated less favorably than a similarly situated employee under similar circumstances. Based on the foregoing, we find that Complainant failed to show that the Agency’s action was motivated by discrimination as he alleged. Complainant argues on appeal that he also alleged that the reprimand at issue was motivated by retaliation. The Commission finds that Complainant has not shown that the Agency’s legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons were a pretext for discrimination and we also therefore find no persuasive evidence that the reprimand was motivated by retaliation. CONCLUSION Accordingly, the Agency’s final decision finding of no discrimination is AFFIRMED. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL RECONSIDERATION (M0610) The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this case if the Complainant or the Agency submits a written request containing arguments or evidence which tend to establish that: 1 The r ecord indicates t hat t he A gency’s Office of Internal Affairs investigated the incidents described in the reprimand and sustained the charges therein. 0120130639 3 1. The appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law; or 2. The appellate decision will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the Agency. Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, must be filed with the Office of Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this decision or within twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of another party’s timely request for reconsideration. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), at 9-18 (November 9, 1999). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013. In the absence of a legible postmark, the request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by mail within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604. The request or opposition must also include proof of service on the other party. Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation must be submitted with your request for reconsideration. The Commission will consider requests for reconsideration filed after the deadline only in very limited circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604(c). COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0610) You have the right to file a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date that you receive this decision. If you file a civil action, you must name as the defendant in the complaint the person who is the official Agency head or department head, identifying that person by his or her full name and official title. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your case in court. “Agency” or “department” means the national organization, and not the local office, facility or department in which you work. If you file a request to reconsider and also file a civil action, filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint. RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0610) If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot afford the services of an attorney, you may request from the Court that the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also permit you to file the action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 791, 794(c). The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of the Court. Filing a request for an attorney with the Court does not extend your time in which to file a civil action. Both the request and 0120130639 4 the civil action must be filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above (“Right to File a Civil Action”). FOR THE COMMISSION: ______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden, Director Office of Federal Operations Date February 20, 2015 Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation