01985600
08-20-1999
Timothy B. Primerano, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Timothy B. Primerano v. United States Postal Service
01985600
August 20, 1999
Timothy B. Primerano, )
Appellant, )
)
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01985600
) Agency No. 4-C-170-0027-98
)
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
INTRODUCTION
Appellant filed an appeal with this Commission from a final agency
decision ("FAD") concerning his complaint of unlawful employment
discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. �2000e et seq., and the Age Discrimination
in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29 U.S.C. �621 et seq.
The final agency decision was dated June 26, 1998. The appeal was
postmarked July 13, 1998. Accordingly, the appeal is timely (see,
29 C.F.R. �1614.402(a)), and is accepted in accordance with EEOC Order
No. 960, as amended.
ISSUE PRESENTED
The issue on appeal is whether the agency properly dismissed a portion
of appellant's complaint for untimely contact with an EEO counselor.
BACKGROUND
The record indicates that on February 5, 1998, appellant initiated
contact with an EEO Counselor regarding his complaint. On April 22, 1998,
appellant filed a formal complaint, alleging that he was the victim of
unlawful employment discrimination on the bases of sex (male) and age
(over 40) when:
Between 1994-1997, he received harassing telephone calls from his
manager;
The Human Resources officer was directed by appellant's manager to get
appellant off the USPS Headquarters Field Redesign Team;
During a meeting that took place on November 17, 1995, appellant's
manager treated appellant with a lack of dignity and respect and was
sarcastic, threatening and intimidating toward appellant;
On April 22, 1997, appellant was given an award but did not receive
the monetary portion of the award due to his status of sick leave.
Appellant sent a memo to his manager with regards to sick leave, but
his manager never responded;
On May 21, 1997, appellant's manager told appellant that he would no
longer be responsible for the Processing and Distribution operations
at his office;
Appellant's review was delayed causing a delay in upgrade due to the
loss of processing and distribution duties;
A manager made comments of a homosexual nature regarding customers and
made sexual comments about women and used vulgar language;
Appellant was given an award but no monetary or trophy award was given;
On December 19, 1997, appellant's manager became angry at some delayed
mail and called appellant's home;
On January 8, 1998, appellant received a proposed letter of warning for
failure to meet the requirements of his position. Appellant was notified
on March 18, 1998, that the proposed letter would go into effect;
On January 29, 1998, appellant was dismissed from the Postmaster's
Executive Advisory Committee; and
Appellant's manager disapproved of appellant's request for a satellite
system for the post office.
On June 26, 1998, the agency issued a final decision accepting for
investigation a portion of appellant's complaint and dismissing the
other portion for untimely contact with an EEO counselor. Specifically,
the agency found that allegations (1) and (3-9) were untimely.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
The Commission has previously held that when confronted with claims
involving multiple allegations, an agency should not ignore the "pattern"
aspect of a complaint's allegations and define the issue in a piecemeal
manner where an underlying theme unites the matters complained of.
Meaney v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05940169
(November 3, 1994); Ferguson v. Department of Justice, EEOC Request
No. 05970792 (March 30, 1999); Drake v. Department of the Air Force,
EEOC Request No. 05970689 (March 29, 1999). Appellant has alleged
that he was continuously harassed by his manager with respect to the
above referenced allegations. As such, the Commission finds that he
has shown an underlying theme (harassed by his manager) that unites
the allegations. Allegations (2) and (10-12) were considered timely and
accepted for investigation. Thus appellant's harassment claim is timely.
Therefore, allegations (1) and (3-9) should be investigated as background
evidence in support of appellant's overall harassment claim.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, we REVERSE the agency's decision dismissing allegations
(1) and (3-9).
ORDER (E1092)
The agency is ORDERED to combine and process allegations (1) and (3-9)
with the accepted allegations (2) and (10-12) in accordance with 29
C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant that
it has received the remanded allegations within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue to
appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify appellant
of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150) calendar days
of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter is otherwise
resolved prior to that time. If the appellant requests a final decision
without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision within sixty
(60) days of receipt of appellant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgement to appellant and a copy
of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of rights
must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)
Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.
The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)
calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action.
The report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,
Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting
documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to
the appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's
order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of
the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503(a). The appellant 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. ��1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503(g). Alternatively,
the appellant 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. ��1614.408 and 1614.409. 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) (Supp. V 1993). If the
appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the
complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.
See 29 C.F.R. �1614.10.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0795)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available
when the previous decision was issued; or
2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,
regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or
3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial
precedential implications.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST
BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this
decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive
a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in
opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider
MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party
WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request
to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments
must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received
by the Commission.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances
have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,
a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the
delay and 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. �l6l4.604(c).
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)
This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative
processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil
action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United
States District Court. It is the position of the Commission that 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. You should be aware, however, that courts in some
jurisdictions have interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner
suggesting that a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR
DAYS from the date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your
civil action is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN
THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision
or to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the
jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. In the alternative,
you may file a civil action AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) CALENDAR
DAYS of the date you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your
appeal with the Commission. 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.
Filing a civil action will terminate the administrative processing of
your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1092)
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:
August 20, 1999
____________________________
DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations