0120140625
06-02-2016
Felisha A.,1 Complainant, v. Anthony Foxx, Secretary, Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration), Agency.
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Felisha A.,1
Complainant,
v.
Anthony Foxx,
Secretary,
Department of Transportation
(Federal Aviation Administration),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120140625
Agency No. 2013-24834-FAA-02
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's final decision dated October 23, 2013, dismissing a formal complaint of unlawful 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., and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (ADEA), 29 U.S.C. �621 et seq.
BACKGROUND
During the period at issue, Complainant worked as a Management and Program Analyst at the Agency's Employee Development Group, Management Services Directorate in Washington D.C.
On November 7, 2012, Complainant initiated EEO Counselor contact. Informal efforts to resolve her concerns were unsuccessful.
On March 13, 2013, Complainant filed the instant formal complaint. Therein, Complainant alleged that the Agency subjected her to discrimination on the bases of race, sex and age when:
a. her opportunity for promotion was negatively affected;
b. extreme favoritism existed within the organization concerning training and job assignments negatively affecting her opportunity for promotion;
c. she was denied travel for a project in May 2012;
d. she was subjected to a hostile work environment;
e. on October 11, 2012, during her performance review, her manager told her different things than what was written on her evaluation.
On October 23, 2013, the Agency issued the instant final decision. Therein, the Agency dismissed claims a - c on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2). The Agency determined that Complainant's initial EEO Counselor contact was on November 7, 2012, which it found to be beyond the 45-day limitation period. The Agency also dismissed claims a and e for failure to state a claim, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1).
Further, the Agency dismissed claim d on the grounds that the hostile work environment claim had not been raised with an EEO Counselor and that it is not like and related to matters for which Complainant underwent EEO counseling, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2).
The instant appeal followed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
Claim d (not like or related to a matter that has been brought to EEO Counselor)
The Agency found that claim d should be dismissed because it was not raised before the EEO Counselor. We note, however, that pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.106(d), a complainant may amend a complaint at any time prior to the conclusion of the investigation to include issues or claims like or related in the formal complaint. While � 1614.107(a)(2) states that the Agency shall dismiss a complaint that raises a matter that has not been brought to the attention of an EEO Counselor and is not like or related to a matter that has been brought to the attention of an EEO Counselor, we find that a fair reading of the instant record reflects that Complainant alleged that she was being subjected to ongoing harassment by Agency management. In addition, the formal complaint contains additional examples of alleged harassment by the same Agency management which are like or related to the instances alleged in the informal complaint, and Complainant is entitled to make such amendments under 29 C.F.R. � 1614.106(d). Therefore, we find that the Agency improperly dismissed claim d on the grounds that the claim had not been raised with an EEO Counselor and that it is not like or related to the matters for which Complainant underwent EEO counseling.
Claims a and e (failure to state a claim)
The Agency improperly fragmented Complainant's claim of ongoing discriminatory harassment/hostile work environment by dismissing claims a and e for failure to state a claim. A fair reading of her formal complaint, Complainant claimed that she was subjected to a series of related incidents of harassment from May 2012 through present based on her race, sex, age, and sexual orientation.
In the attachment to the instant formal complaint, Complainant states that she was subjected to ongoing harassment "in term and condition of employment including work assignments, training, travel, evaluations, pay, and promotions. I have been treated differently and less favorably than similarly-situated employees resulting in loss of monies, influence, denied promotions career and health damage, etc."
As a remedy, Complainant requested "retroactive promotion to an H-Band, Management and Program Analyst position outside of my current chain of command, back pay with interest, $150K for compensatory damages, and the assurance of no reprisal." These matters, taken together, state an actionable claim of harassment. By alleging a pattern of harassment, Complainant has stated a cognizable claim under the EEOC regulations. See Cervantes v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05930303 (November 12, 1993).
Claims a - c (untimely EEO Counselor contact)
The Agency also improperly dismissed claims a - c on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact. The record reflects that Complainant initiated EEO Counselor contact on November 7, 2012. The Commission has held that "[b]ecause the incidents that make up a hostile work environment claim collectively constitute one unlawful employment practice, the entire claim is actionable, as long, as at least one incident that is part of the claim occurred within the filing period. This includes incidents that occurred outside the filing period that the [Complainant] knew or should have known were actionable at the time of their occurrence." EEOC Compliance Manual, Section 2, Threshold Issues at 2 - 75 (revised July 21, 2005) (citing National Railroad Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 117 (2002)).
The record reflects that various incidents comprising Complainant's hostile work environment claim occurred within the 45-day time period preceding Complainant's November 7, 2012 EEO Counselor contact, as discussed above. Because a fair reading of the record reflects that the matter identified in claims a - c is part of that harassment claim, we find that the Agency improperly dismissed these claims on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact.
We REVERSE the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's formal complaint, defined herein as a harassment claim, and we REMAND this matter to the Agency for further processing in accordance with the ORDER below.2
ORDER (E0610)
The Agency is ordered to process the remanded claims on the bases of race, sex, age, and sexual orientation (harassment/hostile work environment) in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.108 et seq. 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 (K0610)
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 77960, Washington, DC 20013. 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 (M0416)
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), at Chap. 9 � VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The requests may be submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. 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 (R0610)
This is a decision requiring the Agency to continue its administrative processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date that you receive this decision. 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 filed your appeal with the Commission. 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. Filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0815)
If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant's Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits).
FOR THE COMMISSION:
______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden's signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
June 2, 2016
__________________
Date
1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant's name when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission's website.
2 We note that in its instant final decision, the Agency indicated that Complainant alleged discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The Agency did not address the bases of race, sex, and age which were not explicitly dismissed. The Agency is reminded that it must clearly and explicitly dismiss issues or bases, and offer appeal rights regarding them, in order to have such allegations stated in a complaint dismissed. See Jozlin v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Appeal No. 01920040 (February 12, 1996).
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