Brenda Watkins, Complainant,v.Richard J. Danzig, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJul 19, 2000
01a02845 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 19, 2000)

01a02845

07-19-2000

Brenda Watkins, Complainant, v. Richard J. Danzig, Secretary, Department of the Navy, Agency.


Brenda Watkins v. Department of the Navy

01A02845

July 19, 2000

Brenda Watkins, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A02845

) Agency No. 96-00391-002

Richard J. Danzig, )

Secretary, )

Department of the Navy, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

On February 3, 2000, Brenda Watkins (hereinafter referred to as

complainant) filed a timely appeal from the June 22, 1998,<1>

final decision of the Department of the Navy (hereinafter referred

to as the agency) concerning her 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. The appeal is timely filed (see 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred

to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.402(a)))<2> and is accepted in accordance with 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (to be codified as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405). For

the reasons that follow, the agency's decision is AFFIRMED.

The issue presented in this appeal is whether the complainant has proven,

by a preponderance of the evidence, that the agency discriminated

against her on the bases of race (black) and sex when she was charged

absent without leave (AWOL) for falsification of her time sheet and a

co-worker reported her falsification in December 1995.

Complainant filed a formal complaint on June 7, 1996. Complainant had

received discipline for prior misuse of her time and attendance, including

a Letter of Reprimand when she was absent without approved leave, and

counseling when she misreported her time of arrival on four occasions.

When she again misstated her time of arrival on December 21, 1995, she

was placed on AWOL. In addition, a co-worker verified that complainant

had improperly reported her time of arrival.

The agency found that complainant failed to demonstrate that the

actions of her supervisor or co-worker were based on race or sex and

that complainant was not harassed by her co-worker because of unlawful

considerations. We agree with the agency's conclusions and find that

it did not discriminate against complainant.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the agency's decision was proper and is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0300)

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 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred

to as 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 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).

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0400)

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:

07-19-00

Date Carlton Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that

the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

__________ ______________________

Date

1The record shows that complainant received the agency's decision on

February 3, 2000, after several attempts at delivery by the agency.

2On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's federal

sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations apply to all

federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative

process. Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations

found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the

present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the

Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.