0120063094
03-26-2008
Stephanie Y. Scott, Complainant, v. Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner, Social Security Administration, Agency.
Stephanie Y. Scott,
Complainant,
v.
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner,
Social Security Administration,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01200630941
Agency No. 05-0210-SSA
Hearing No. 520-2006-00022x
DECISION
Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from the agency's
decision dated January 31, 2006. In its decision, the agency declined
to give complainant appeal rights to the Commission, stating that as
her complaint of unlawful employment discrimination claimed the bases
of marital status and parental status, these claims were not subject
to the regulations found at 29 C.F.R. Part 1614, and did not fall under
the Commission's purview.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.103(a) provides that individual and
class complaints of employment discrimination and retaliation prohibited
by Title VII (discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion,
sex and national origin), the ADEA (discrimination on the basis of
age when the aggrieved individual is at least forty years of age),
the Rehabilitation Act (discrimination on the basis of disability),
or the Equal Pay Act (sex-based wage discrimination) shall be processed
in accordance with this part. EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.101(b)
provides that no person shall be subject to retaliation for opposing any
practice made unlawful by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII)
(42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.), the Equal Pay Act (29 U.S.C. � 206(d)) or
the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq.) or for participating in
any stage of administrative or judicial proceedings under these statutes.
Even though an agency's internal EEO regulations may prohibit
discrimination on the basis of marital status or parental status, the EEOC
only has authority over federal sector complaints of discrimination on the
bases of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disabling
condition. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.103; �1614.106(a); Lee v. United States
Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01965341 (Sept. 4, 1998) (marital status
not covered by EEOC). Therefore, we find that the agency properly noted
the Commission's lack of jurisdiction over complainant's claims, and
we decline to review its decision regarding the denial of a hardship
transfer based on her marital and parental status.
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
3-26-08
__________________
Date
1 Due to a new Commission data system, this case has been redesignated
with the above-referenced appeal number.
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2
0120063094
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P. O. Box 19848
Washington, D.C. 20036
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0120063094