0120072488
08-23-2007
Martha F. Connolly, Complainant, v. Robert M. Gates, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Logistics Agency), Agency.
Martha F. Connolly,
Complainant,
v.
Robert M. Gates,
Secretary,
Department of Defense,
(Defense Logistics Agency),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120072488
Agency No. DLAN-07-0452
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the final
agency decision dated March 29, 2007, dismissing her formal 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.,
Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act),
as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq., and the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq.
On January 26, 2007, complainant filed the instant complaint, claiming
that she was subjected to discrimination on the bases of race, disability,
and age when:
on November 14, 2006, her supervisor told her to "quit chit-chatting
and get to work." The supervisor also screamed at complainant to the
point that the entire office could hear him.
In its March 29, 2007 final decision, the agency dismissed the complaint
for failure to state a claim. Specifically, the agency determined that
complainant's supervisor's purported remarks failed to rise to the level
of an adverse action. Furthermore, the agency concluded that the alleged
acts did not rise to the level of harassment.
EEOC regulations require the dismissal of complaints that fail to
state a claim. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1). To state a claim,
complainant must allege harm to a term, condition, or privilege of
employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
age, disabling condition, or reprisal for prior protected activity.
Diaz v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21,
1994). Moreover, the claim, even if proven to be true and viewed in a
light most favorable to complainant, would not indicate that complainant
has been subjected to harassment that was sufficiently severe or pervasive
to alter the conditions of employment. See Cobb v. Department of the
Treasury, EEOC Request no. 05970077 (March 13, 1997).
Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing the instant complaint
is AFFIRMED.
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
August 23, 2007
__________________
Date
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U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P. O. Box 19848
Washington, D.C. 20036
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