EEOC Appeal No. 0120172462
09-15-2017
Kristopher M. v. Dept. of State
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Kristopher M,1
Complainant,
v.
Rex W. Tillerson,
Secretary,
Department of State,
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120172462
Agency No. DOS-0134-17
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's final decision dated June 13, 2017, dismissing a formal complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq.
BACKGROUND
Complainant, a federal employee with a different agency and a job applicant for the Agency, initiated EEO Counselor contact on February 1, 2017. Informal efforts to resolve his concerns were unsuccessful.
On April 25, 2017, Complainant filed the instant formal complaint. Complainant alleged that the Agency subjected him to discrimination on the bases of disability and veteran's preference status when:
1. he was denied reasonable accommodation for the assessment that he took on November 14, 2016 as part of his application to the position of Foreign Service Diplomatic Security Agency (SA-2015-0001);
2. on November 14, 2016, his application for the position of Foreign Service Diplomatic Security Agency was terminated; and
3. on November 14, 2016, he experienced a hostile work environment, characterized by, but not limited to, a Special Agent failing to properly concern the firearm on his belt and identifying himself via displaying his badge.
In its June 13, 2017 final decision, the Agency dismissed the formal complaint 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 February 1, 2017, which it found to be beyond the 45-day limitation period.
Further, the Agency dismissed Complainant's veteran's preference status as a basis. Specifically, the Agency noted that a fair reading of the formal complaint reflects that Complainant was alleging discrimination based on veteran's preference status. The Agency determined that issues involving veteran's preference do not fall within the purview of Title VII.
The instant appeal followed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
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 personnel action, within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of the action.
On appeal, Complainant argues that he had no actual or constructive knowledge of the limitation period for contacting EEO Counselor. Where, as herein, there is an issue of timeliness, "[a]n agency always bears the burden of obtaining sufficient information to support a reasoned determination as to timeliness." Guy v. Department of Energy, EEOC Request No. 05930703 (January 4, 1994) (quoting Williams v. Department of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05920506 (August 25, 1992)). In addition, in Ericson v. Department of the Army, EEOC Request No. 05920623 (January 14, 1993), the Commission stated "the agency has the burden of proving evidence and/or proof to support its final decisions," see also Gens v. Department of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05910837 (January 31, 1992).
In this case, we find that the Agency provided no documentation reflecting Complainant's actual or constructive knowledge of the 45-day limitation period. Complainant, on appeal, argues that the Attorney Advisor "has claimed I had a 'constructive knowledge' of the 45-day time limit based on guidance posted on the DoS website. She has offered a screenshot as evidence. I contend that while this may be posted on their website, I had no prior knowledge of any time limits, actual or constructive." We are therefore persuaded by Complainant's assertions that he had no knowledge of the limitation period until more than 45 days after the discriminatory event purportedly occurred. Therefore, the Agency improperly dismissed the formal complaint for untimely EEO Counselor contact.
The Agency, however, properly dismissed the basis of veteran's preference. The Commission has consistently held that veteran's preference is not an enumerated basis for filing an EEO complaint, and that complaints concerning veteran's preference are not within the purview of the EEO complaint process. See, e.g. Glenn v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Request No. 05910927 (February 21, 1992); Roth v. Department of Commerce, EEOC Request No. 05910129 (March 7, 1991). The Commission has no authority to enforce laws providing assistance to veterans.
The Agency's dismissal of veteran's preference status as a basis is AFFIRMED. The Agency's dismissal of the formal complaint on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact, on the basis of disability, is REVERSED. The formal complaint is REMANDED to the Agency for further processing in accordance with the ORDER below.
ORDER (E1016)
The Agency is ordered to process the remanded claims (solely on the basis of disability) 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 was issued. 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 was issued, 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 (K0617)
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 in the digital format required by the Commission, and submitted via the Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.403(g). 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 (M0617)
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. A party shall have twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of another party's timely request for reconsideration in which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. 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. Complainant's request 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 agency's request must be submitted in digital format via the EEOC's Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.403(g). 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 (T0610)
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 (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
September 15, 2017
__________________
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.
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