01a00481
03-31-2000
Lenora Haynes, Complainant, v. Daniel R. Glickman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Agency.
Lenora Haynes, )
Complainant, )
) Appeal No. 01A00481
v. ) Agency No. 980444
)
Daniel R. Glickman, )
Secretary, )
Department of Agriculture, )
Agency. )
____________________________________)
DECISION
Pursuant to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified at 29
C.F.R. � 1614.405), the Commission accepts the complainant's appeal
from the agency's final decision in the above-entitled matter.<1>
After a review of the record in its entirety, including consideration
of all statements submitted on appeal, it is the decision of the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission to AFFIRM the agency's final decision
dismissing complainant's claims that she was performing duties above
her grade level without additional compensation and she was denied a
desk audit and promotion to the GS-12 level on the bases of her race,
sex and age because the preponderance of the evidence in record does
not establish that discrimination occurred. Furthermore, the Commission
finds that there was no violation of the Equal Pay Act.
In addition, complainant's claims that her office was closed and she
was reassigned in February 1996, and that in October1996 she should
have received an outstanding rating for her performance was properly
dismissed on the ground of untimely EEO Counselor contact pursuant to 64
Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to be codified and hereinafter referred to
as EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2)). The record discloses that
the alleged discriminatory events occurred in February 1996 and October
1996, but complainant did not initiate contact with an EEO Counselor
until January 7, 1998, beyond the forty-five (45) day limitation period.
On appeal, no persuasive arguments or evidence have been presented to
warrant an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO contact.
Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing complainant's
claims regarding the 1996 reassignments and the October 1996 appraisal
is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0300)
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 64
Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred
to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter
referred to as 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 (S1199)
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.
COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION-EQUAL PAY ACT (Y1199)
You are authorized under section 16(b) of the Fair Labor Standards Act
(29 U.S.C. � 216(b)) to file a civil action in a court of competent
jurisdiction WITHIN TWO YEARS or, if the violation is willful, THREE YEARS
of the date of the alleged violation of the Equal Pay Act regardless of
whether you have pursued any administrative complaint processing. The
filing of the 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:
March 31, 2000
Date
Carlton
M.
Hadden,
Acting
Director
Office of Federal Operations
CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision
was received within five (5) calendar days after it was mailed. I certify
that this decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative
(if applicable), and the agency on:
Date 1On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's
federal sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations
apply to all federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in
the administrative process. Consequently, the Commission will apply
the revised regulations found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where
applicable, in deciding the present appeal. The regulations, as amended,
may also be found at the Commission's website at WWW.EEOC.GOV.