Diane G. Proulx, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMay 6, 2003
01A31480 (E.E.O.C. May. 6, 2003)

01A31480

05-06-2003

Diane G. Proulx, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Diane G. Proulx v. United States Postal Service

01A31480

05-06-03

.

Diane G. Proulx,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A31480

Agency No. 4-H-320-0135-01

Hearing No. 150-A2-8298X

DECISION

Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405, the Commission accepts the complainant's

appeal from the agency's final order in the above-entitled matter.

Complainant alleged that the agency had discriminated against her on

the basis of sex (female) when she was subjected to a hostile work

environment from March 26, 2001 until May 25, 2001, when supervisors

called her to tell her of an affair with her husband. After a review of

the record in its entirety, including consideration of all statements

submitted on appeal, it is the decision of the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission to affirm the agency's final order, because

the Administrative Judge's issuance of a decision without a hearing was

appropriate and a preponderance of the record evidence does not establish

that discrimination occurred.<1>

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0701)

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 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), 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 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. 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 (S0900)

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 (Z1199)

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 that the Court appoint

an attorney to represent you and that the Court 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 does not extend your time

in which to file a civil action. Both the request and 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

___05-06-03_______________

Date

1 In her December 20, 2001 affidavit,

complainant stated that after a one week absence, she �was not allowed

to return to work for six weeks, even though [she] had a note from

[her] doctor]." The record does not reveal that a nexus exists between

complainant's claim of sexual harassment and management not allowing

her to return to work because the supervisor responsible for allowing

complainant to return to work is not the same supervisor that allegedly

harassed complainant. Therefore, because complainant is raising a

discrete act of discrimination with respect to the agency allowing her

to return to work, complainant is advised that if she wishes to pursue,

through the EEO process, this allegation, she shall initiate contact

with an EEO counselor within 15 days after she receives this decision.

The Commission advises the agency that, if complainant seeks EEO

counseling regarding said allegation within the above 15 day period, the

date complainant dated her affidavit, December 20, 2001, shall be deemed

to be the date of initial EEO contact, unless she previously contacted a

counselor regarding this matter, in which case the earlier date should

serve as the EEO counselor contact date. Qatsha v. Department of the

Navy, EEOC Request No. 05970201 (January 16, 1998).