[Redacted], Shaun N., 1 Complainant,v.Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary, Department of Defense (Defense Commissary Agency), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Dec 7, 2022

Appeal No. 2022004940 (E.E.O.C. Dec. 7, 2022)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Shaun N.,1 Complainant, v. Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary, Department of Defense (Defense Commissary Agency), Agency. Appeal No. 2022004940 Agency No. DeCa-00114-2022 DECISION Complainant filed an appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) from the Agency's decision dated August 19, 2022, dismissing his complaint alleging 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. BACKGROUND At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Store Worker, WG- 04, at the Agency’s Fort Bliss Commissary in Texas. On July 5, 2022, Complainant filed a formal equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint alleging that the Agency subjected him to discrimination on the basis of national origin (Hispanic) due to instances of “wrongfulness, bias, and unfairness” to him and fellow employees. Complainant alleged that the Agency overlooked him and his coworkers for opportunities and overtime without justification, that upper management mistreated lower management, and that management created a hostile work environment generally. On August 19, 2022, the Agency issued a final decision dismissing Complainant’s complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1), for failure to state a claim. 1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website. 2022004940 2 The Agency stated that Complainant was not aggrieved by the actions alleged and that he could not file a complaint concerning alleged actions against other employees. The instant appeal from Complainant followed. On appeal, Complainant stated, again in general terms, that he alleged discrimination based on adverse actions toward him and his coworkers. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS An agency shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved employee or applicant for employment who believes that he has been discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disabling condition, genetic information, or reprisal. 29 C.F.R. §§ 1614.103, .106(a). The Commission's federal sector case precedent has long defined an “aggrieved employee” as one who suffers a present harm or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for which there is a remedy. Diaz v. Dep’t of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994). The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1) provides, in relevant part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint that fails to state a claim. After careful review of the record, we agree with the Agency that Complainant’s primary allegations concern a number of generalized grievances alleging adverse actions against identified coworkers. Under the circumstances presented here, it does not appear that Complainant has standing to assert a claim for actions he was not subjected to personally. Moreover, while many of Complainant’s allegations have been presented in very general terms, a fair reading of the complaint, as well as his statement on appeal, shows that Complainant has not asserted any factual allegations that members of Fort Bliss Commissary’s management discriminated against him personally based on his national origin and that he suffered a present harm or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment for which there is a remedy. As such, we do not find that the Agency erred in dismissing the complaint for failure to state a viable claim of discrimination CONCLUSION Accordingly, the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED. 2022004940 3 STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL RECONSIDERATION (M0920) The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider this appellate decision if Complainant or the Agency submits a written request that contains arguments or evidence that 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 for reconsideration must be filed with EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this decision. If the party requesting reconsideration elects to file a statement or brief in support of the request, that statement or brief must be filed together with the request for reconsideration. A party shall have twenty (20) calendar days from receipt of another party’s request for reconsideration within which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). Complainant should submit his or her request for reconsideration, and any statement or brief in support of his or her request, via the EEOC Public Portal, which can be found at https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/Portal/Login.aspx Alternatively, Complainant can submit his or her request and arguments to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, via regular mail addressed to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail addressed to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. In the absence of a legible postmark, a complainant’s request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if OFO receives it by mail within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604. An agency’s request for reconsideration must be submitted in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). Either party’s request and/or statement or brief in opposition must also include proof of service on the other party, unless Complainant files his or her request via the EEOC Public Portal, in which case no proof of service is required. Failure to file within the 30-day time period will result in dismissal of the party’s request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation must be submitted together with the 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). 2022004940 4 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 (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. Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’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 December 7, 2022 Date