0120130031
02-22-2013
Miguel Salazar, Complainant, v. Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Pacific Area), Agency.
Miguel Salazar,
Complainant,
v.
Patrick R. Donahoe,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Pacific Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120130031
Agency No. 4F900011612
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's decision dated August 21, 2012, dismissing his 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., Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq., and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Data Collection Clerk at the Agency's P&DC facility in Los Angeles, California.
On July 16, 2012, Complainant filed a formal EEO complaint alleging that the Agency subjected him to discrimination on the bases of race/national origin (Hispanic), sex (male), color (brown), disability, and age (57) when management allegedly revealed his personal medical information to co-workers.
Briefly, on appeal, Complainant explains that during a meeting in December 2011, while Complainant was out on leave, his manager told his co-workers that the reason for his absence was that he had "mental issues/mental problems." When he returned to work in February 2012, his co-workers told him what the manager had said. As a result, Complainant asserts that his co-workers have been treating him negatively like saying, "Wait, I cannot talk to you about this: you have a mental problem."
On August 21, 2012, the Agency issued a final decision dismissing the complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1), for failure to state a claim. The Agency stated that it was only speculation on Complainant's part that his medical information had been revealed. The Agency found that even assuming the disclosure occurred, Complainant was alleging a violation of the Privacy Act, which cannot be litigated in the EEO forum.
The instant appeal followed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
While the Agency asserts that only the Privacy Act is implicated by the alleged improper medical disclosure, the Commission's regulations implementing the Rehabilitation Act also provide for the confidentiality of medical records. Specifically, 29 C.F.R. � 1630.14(c)(1) provides, in pertinent part, that: "Information obtained... regarding the medical condition or history of any employee shall ... be treated as a confidential medical record, except that: (i) [s]upervisors and managers may be informed regarding necessary restrictions on the work or duties of the employee and necessary accommodation." By its terms, this requirement applies to confidential medical information obtained from "any employee," and is not limited to individuals with disabilities. See Hampton v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01A00132 (April 13, 2000). Although not all medically-related information falls within this provision, documentation or information of an individual's diagnosis is without question medical information that must be treated as confidential except in those circumstances described in 29 C.F.R. Part 1630. See Hampton, supra; see also ADA Enforcement Guidance: Preemployment Disability-Related Questions and Medical Examinations (October 10, 1995), at 22; EEOC Enforcement Guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Psychiatric Disabilities (March 25, 1997) at 17 �15. Therefore, we find that Complainant has alleged a viable claim of unlawful medical disclosure which must be investigated before a decision can be made on the merits of that claim.
Accordingly, the Agency's dismissal is REVERSED and the matter is REMANDED to the agency for further processing in accordance with the following Order.
ORDER (E0610)
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 (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 (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 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 (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 (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 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
February 22, 2013
__________________
Date
2
0120130031
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
2
0120130031