Ahtesham Chowdhury, Complainant,v.Condoleezza Rice, Secretary, Department of State, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMay 8, 2007
0120063633 (E.E.O.C. May. 8, 2007)

0120063633

05-08-2007

Ahtesham Chowdhury, Complainant, v. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary, Department of State, Agency.


Ahtesham Chowdhury,

Complainant,

v.

Condoleezza Rice,

Secretary,

Department of State,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01200636331

Agency No. DOS-F-070-05

DECISION

Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405, the Commission accepts complainant's

appeal from the agency's May 9, 2006 final decision concerning his equal

employment opportunity (EEO) complaint alleging 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. The appeal is subject to our de

novo review under 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(a). Complainant alleged that the

agency discriminated against him on the bases of race (Asian), national

origin (Pakistani), religion (Muslim), and reprisal for prior protected

EEO activity (arising under Title VII) when:

1. Between March and July 2005, he was subjected to a hostile work

environment characterized by misrepresentations about his work performance

and professional competency, including, but no limited to, the following:

a. On May 17, 2005, management sent an email to him and his colleagues

attacking him professionally, and

b. In June 2005, management questioned the accuracy of his time and

attendance.

2. In July 2005, he was constructively discharged from his position as

an Advisor in the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO).

Having reviewed the record and complainant's arguments on appeal, we are

not persuaded to overturn the agency's final decision. Even assuming,

but not finding, that the alleged acts are sufficiently severe and

pervasive to have created a hostile work environment, he has failed to

present evidence showing that management's actions were motivated by

a discriminatory animus towards his race, national origin, religion,

or prior EEO activity. Complainant has made only bald, unsupported

assertions that management acted in a discriminatory manner. We cannot

make a finding of discrimination on insufficient evidence. Therefore,

it is the decision of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to

affirm the agency's final decision because the preponderance of the

evidence of record does not establish that discrimination occurred.

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 (S0900)

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. 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

May 8, 2007

__________________

Date

1 Due to a new data system, this case has been redesignated with the

above referenced appeal number.

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2

0120063633

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P. O. Box 19848

Washington, D.C. 20036

3

0120063633

4

0120063633