[Redacted], Sherill S., 1 Complainant,v.James E. McPherson, Acting Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Dec 17, 2020

Appeal No. 2020003112 (E.E.O.C. Dec. 17, 2020)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Sherill S.,1 Complainant, v. James E. McPherson, Acting Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency. Request No. 2021000102 Appeal No. 2020003112 Agency No. DON-19-00128-03166 DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION Complainant requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) reconsider its decision in Sherill S. v. Dep’t of Navy, EEOC Appeal No. 2020003112 (August 31, 2020). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion, grant a request to reconsider any previous Commission decision issued pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(a), where the requesting party demonstrates 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. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c). At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Child and Youth Program (CYP) Assistant, GS-4, at the Agency’s Great Lakes Naval Station facility in Kenosha, Wisconsin. On September 16, 2019, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her to discrimination on the bases of race, sex, and in reprisal for prior EEO activity when: 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. 2021000102 2 1. From March 25, 2019 to June 7, 2019, the Installation CYP Director targeted and harassed Complainant, by including but not limited to: allowing management to write bad observations about her and unnecessarily critique her; making false statements about Complainant such as stating that Complainant refused to take her calls and telling investigators Complainant was the only teacher in the classroom during the alleged child abuse incident; and preventing her from returning to the classroom by insisting a fact finding meeting needed to occur even though she was cleared of any wrongdoing; and 2. On April 25, 2019, Complainant was notified by the Installation CYP Director she was being placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into child abuse allegations. The Agency dismissed the complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(2), due to the untimely filing of the formal complaint. Complainant appealed, and the Commission’s prior decision affirmed the Agency’s decision. In her request, Complainant reiterates arguments she previously made and provides no evidence to warrant granting her request. The Commission emphasizes that a request for reconsideration is not a second appeal to the Commission. Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110) (Aug. 5, 2015), at 9-18; see, e.g., Lopez v. Dep't of Agric., EEOC Request No. 0520070736 (Aug. 20, 2007). Rather, a reconsideration request is an opportunity to demonstrate that the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law, or will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the Agency. Complainant has not done so here. After reviewing the previous decision and the entire record, the Commission finds that the request fails to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c), and it is the decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 2020003112 remains the Commission's decision. There is no further right of administrative appeal on the decision of the Commission on this request. COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0610) This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right of administrative appeal from the Commission’s decision. 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. 2021000102 3 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 December 17, 2020 Date