[Redacted], Chuck C., 1 Petitioner,v.Deb A. Haaland, Secretary, Department of the Interior (Bureau of Reclamation), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Jan 31, 2023

Petition No. 2023001033 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 31, 2023)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Chuck C.,1 Petitioner, v. Deb A. Haaland, Secretary, Department of the Interior (Bureau of Reclamation), Agency. Petition No. 2023001033 MSPB No. SF-0752-17-0022-I-1 DENIAL OF CONSIDERATION On November 20, 2022, Petitioner filed a timely petition with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) asking for review of a Final Order issued by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) concerning his claim of discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. §791 et seq. For the reasons that follow, we DENY consideration of Petitioner’s petition, and REMAND this matter to the Agency for further processing. At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Petitioner worked as an Electrician with a temporary promotion to Foreman I at the Agency’s Grand Coulee Power Station in Coulee Dam, Washington. On October 30, 2014, Petitioner retired from the Agency. Petitioner filed an appeal with the MSPB alleging that his retirement from the Agency was involuntary. A hearing was held and thereafter an MSPB Administrative Judge (AJ) issued an Initial Decision dismissing the matter for lack of jurisdiction. The MSPB AJ determined that the evidence reflected that Petitioner made the decision to retire while there were several options available to Petitioner that would have accommodated his concern of protecting his hearing. The MSPB AJ concluded that Petitioner’s decision to retire was voluntary. 1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Petitioner’s name when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website. 2023001033 2 Petitioner sought review by the full Board. On October 31, 2022, the Board affirmed the Initial Decision and denied Petitioner’s Petition for Review. However, the Board modified the discussion concerning Petitioner’s reasonable accommodation arguments. Petitioner then filed the instant appeal. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission has jurisdiction over mixed case appeals and complaints on which the MSPB has issued a decision that makes determinations on allegations of discrimination. 29 C.F.R. § 1614.303 et seq. However, when the MSPB, as it did here, denies jurisdiction, the Commission has held that there is little point in continuing to view the matter as a “mixed case” as defined by 29 C.F.R. § 1614.302(a), because the MSPB did not address any matters within the Commission’s jurisdiction. Therefore, the Commission finds that it has no jurisdiction to review Petitioner’s petition. This matter will be considered a “non-mixed” case and processed accordingly. See generally Schmitt v. Dep’t of Transp., EEOC Appeal No. 01902126 (July 9, 1990); Phillips v. Dep’t of the Army, EEOC Request No. 05900883 (Oct. 12, 1990); 29 C.F.R. § 1614.302(c)(2)(i) and (ii). In accordance with these principles, Petitioner’s request for review is DENIED and Petition No. 2023001033 is hereby administratively closed. MSPB No. SF-0752-17-0022-I-1 is referred to the Agency for further processing as outlined below. ORDER Petitioner is advised by operation of 29 C.F.R. § 1614.302(b) that the Agency, if it has not already done so, is required to process his allegation of discrimination. Because Petitioner filed a mixed case appeal with the MSPB, the Agency, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105 et seq., shall notify Petitioner of the right to contact an EEO counselor within forty-five (45) days of receipt of this decision, and to file an EEO complaint, subject to 29 C.F.R § 1614.107. The date on which the Petitioner filed the appeal with the MSPB shall be deemed the date of initial contact with the EEO counselor. A copy of the notification shall be provided to the Compliance Officer listed below. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION’S DECISION (K0719) Under 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c) and §1614.502, compliance with the Commission’s corrective action is mandatory. Within seven (7) calendar days of the completion of each ordered corrective action, the Agency shall submit via the Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP) supporting documents in the digital format required by the Commission, referencing the compliance docket number under which compliance was being monitored. Once all compliance is complete, the Agency shall submit via FedSEP a final compliance report in the digital format required by the Commission. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). The Agency’s final report must contain supporting documentation when previously not uploaded, and the Agency must send a copy of all submissions to the Petitioner and his/her representative. 2023001033 3 If the Agency does not comply with the Commission’s order, the Petitioner may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order. 29 C.F.R. § 1614.503(a). The Petitioner also has the right to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission’s order prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement. See 29 C.F.R. §§ 1614.407, 1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. § 1614.503(g). Alternatively, the Petitioner has the right to file a civil action on the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled “Right to File a Civil Action.” 29 C.F.R. §§ 1614.407 and 1614.408. A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c) (1994 & Supp. IV 1999). If the Petitioner files a civil action, the administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.409. Failure by an agency to either file a compliance report or implement any of the orders set forth in this decision, without good cause shown, may result in the referral of this matter to the Office of Special Counsel pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.503(f) for enforcement by that agency. PETITIONER’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (W0610) This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right of administrative appeal from the Commission’s decision. You have the right to file a civil action in an appropriate United States District Court, based on the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, within thirty (30) calendar days of 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. RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z0815) If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. 2023001033 4 Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Petitioner’s Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits). FOR THE COMMISSION: ______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature Carlton M. Hadden, Director Office of Federal Operations January 31, 2023 Date