01A31982_r
11-21-2003
Esther M. Sanders, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Esther M. Sanders v. United States Postal Service
01A31982
November 21, 2003
.
Esther M. Sanders,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A31982
Agency No. 4-H-320-0003-03
DECISION
Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from a January 3,
2003 agency decision, dismissing claims 1 through 3 of her complaint,
pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2) for untimely EEO Counselor contact
and claims 4 through 6, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) for
failure to state a claim. Complainant alleged that she was subjected
to discrimination on the bases of sex and age when: (1) on June 29,
2000, she was reassigned to the Gulf Breeze Office; (2) on December 22,
2001, she was removed from a higher level detail; (3) on July 9, 2002,
her schedule was changed; (4) on August 8, 2002, she was not included
in an employee breakfast; (5) on August 26, 2002, she was threatened
with absence without leave; and (6) on September 13, 2002, she was given
a �factfinding.�
In dismissing claims 1 through 3, the agency noted that complainant did
not contact an EEO Counselor until September 16, 2002, which was beyond
the requisite 45 days. Regarding claims 4 through 6, the agency stated
that complainant failed to show how she had suffered a personal harm or
loss as a result of the agency's alleged actions.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(1) requires that complaints of
discrimination should be brought to the attention of the Equal Employment
Opportunity Counselor within forty-five (45) days of the date of the
matter alleged to be discriminatory or, in the case of a personnel
action, within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of the action.
The Commission has adopted a "reasonable suspicion" standard (as opposed
to a "supportive facts" standard) to determine when the forty-five (45)
day limitation period is triggered. See Howard v. Department of the Navy,
EEOC Request No. 05970852 (February 11, 1999).
Regarding claims 1 through 3, the Commission finds that the agency's
dismissal on the grounds of untimeliness was proper. When the alleged
actions occurred, complainant should have had a reasonable suspicion
of discrimination. The record reveals, however, that complainant
did not initiate EEO Counselor contact until September 16, 2002,
which was beyond the 45-day time period required for timely contact.
Complainant has not provided any justification to extend the time period.
The Commission next addresses the dismissal of claims 4 through 6. An
agency shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved employee or applicant
for employment who believes that he or she has been discriminated against
by that agency because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age
or disabling condition. The Commission's federal sector case precedent
has long defined an"aggrieved employee" as one who suffers a present harm
or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment
for which there is a remedy. See Diaz v. Department of the Air Force,
EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).
The agency's dismissal of claims 5 and 6 for failure to state a claim
was proper. Complainant has not shown that she was placed on leave
without pay or that the identified factfinding resulted in a harm or
any adverse employment action. The Commission finds, however, that the
agency's dismissal of claim 4 was improper. Complainant alleged that she
was not invited to an employee breakfast while other employees were.
As such, complainant states a claim of discrimination regarding a
privilege of employment.
The agency's dismissal of claims 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 is AFFIRMED.
The agency's dismissal of claim 4 is REVERSED and claim 4 is REMANDED
to the agency for further processing in accordance with the regulations
and the Order below.
ORDER (E0900)
The agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with
29 C.F.R. � 1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the complainant
that it has received the remanded claims within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue
to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify
complainant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150)
calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter
is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the complainant requests a
final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision
within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and a
copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of
rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0501)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.
The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)
calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The
report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting
documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to
the complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement
of the order. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the
right to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's
order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement.
See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g).
Alternatively, the complainant has the right to file a civil action on
the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled
"Right to File A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408.
A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the underlying
complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c)
(1994 & Supp. IV 1999). If the complainant files a civil action, the
administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for
enforcement, will be terminated. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.
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 (T0900)
This decision affirms the agency's final decision/action in part, but it
also requires the agency to continue its administrative processing of a
portion of your complaint. 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 on both that portion
of your complaint which the Commission has affirmed and that portion
of the complaint which has been remanded for continued administrative
processing. In the alternative, you may file a civil action after
one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days of the date you filed your
complaint with the agency, or your appeal with the Commission, until
such time as the agency issues its final decision on your complaint.
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
November 21, 2003
__________________
Date