0120093005
08-12-2011
Anthony A. Barrett, Complainant, v. Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Great Lakes Area), Agency.
Anthony A. Barrett,
Complainant,
v.
Patrick R. Donahoe,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
(Great Lakes Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120093005
Agency No. 1J-601-0012-09
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's
decision dated May 18, 2009, 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.
Upon review, the Commission finds that Complainant's complaint was
properly dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1) for failure
to state a claim.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked
as a Postage Due Clerk at the Agency’s Processing and Distribution
Center in Carol Stream, Illinois. On May 2, 2009, Complainant filed an
EEO complaint alleging that the Agency subjected him to discrimination
on the basis of race (African-American) when:
1. On March 19, 2009, he was paged while on lunch about a tray of mail;
2. On March 20 and 21, 2009, he was paged while on lunch;
3. On March 21 and 28, 2009, he was ordered to handle mail in an incorrect
manner; and,
4. On April 26, 2009, his supervisor (S1) checked on him.
The Agency dismissed the complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1)
for failure to state a claim. The Agency determined that Complainant was
not aggrieved as he failed to show that he suffered a loss or harm with
respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment. Further,
the Agency found that the alleged incidents were common workplace
occurrences and were not sufficiently severe or pervasive to state a
claim of actionable harassment. As a result, the Agency dismissed the
complaint for failure to state a claim.
On appeal, Complainant states that he disagrees with the Agency’s
dismissal and alleges that S1 has a history of harassing African-American
employees. Accordingly, Complainant requests that the Commission reverse
the Agency’s dismissal.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
The Commission finds that the complaint fails to state a claim under the
EEOC regulations because Complainant failed to show that he suffered harm
or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for
which there is a remedy. See Diaz v. Dep't of the Air Force, EEOC Request
No. 05931049 (Apr. 21, 1994). Moreover, the Commission finds that the
incidents, even if proven to be true and viewed in a light most favorable
to Complainant, do not amount to harassment that is sufficiently severe
or pervasive to alter the conditions of employment. See Cobb v. Dep’t
of the Treasury, Request No. 05970077 (Mar. 13, 1997). Accordingly, the
Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.
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 (Nov. 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 (S0610)
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 (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
August 12, 2011
Date
2
0120093005
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013