0120120799
05-11-2011
Hyo Jin Yoon, Complainant, v. Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Western Area), Agency.
Hyo Jin Yoon,
Complainant,
v.
Patrick R. Donahoe,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Western Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120120799
Agency No. 1E981005511
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's decision dated October 13, 2011, dismissing her 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)(2), for untimely EEO Counselor contact.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Mail Processing Clerk at the Agency's East Delivery Distribution Center in Redmond, Washington.
On September 21, 2011, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her to discrimination on the bases of race (Not Specified) and national origin (Not Specified) when: on July 15, 2011, management refused to sign paperwork that would allow her to buy back leave.
Information in the record indicates that Complainant had an worker's compensation injury and was seeking to buy back leave she had used while awaiting the adjudication of her claim. Complainant was informed in July 2010 that she would have to be put on leave without pay on the dates she used leave, pay back the money that she received from the leave that she used, and then could file the proper forms for buying back the leave. Complainant did not want to pay back the money she received, but wanted to buy back the leave. Because she would not pay back the money, management could not sign the forms.
The Agency dismissed the matter for failing to contact an EEO counselor in a timely manner. The instant appeal followed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
To the extent that Complainant is raising matters related to worker's compensation issues, the Commission has held that an employee cannot use the EEO complaint process to lodge a collateral attack on another proceeding. See Wills v. Dep't of Def., EEOC Request No. 05970596 (July 30, 1998); Kleinman v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05940585 (Sept. 22, 1994); Lingad v. U.S. Postal Serv., EEOC Request No. 05930106 (June 25, 1993). The proper forum for Complainant raise her challenges to actions which involve of Office of Worker's Compensation (OWCP) and its rules which are enforced by the Department of Labor is within the OWCP process. It is inappropriate to now attempt to use the EEO process to collaterally attack actions involving matters over which the Commission has no jurisdiction.
Additionally, the record discloses that the alleged discriminatory event occurred on July 19, 2010, but Complainant did not initiate contact with an EEO Counselor until August 5, 2011, which is beyond the forty-five (45) day limitation period. The Agency provided an affidavit that EEO posters are up at the facility where Complainant is employed. On appeal, Complainant has presented no persuasive arguments or evidence warranting an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO Counselor contact.
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 (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 (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
May 11, 2011
__________________
Date
2
0120120799
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
2
0120120799