0120101561
06-10-2010
Carmen I. Velez, Complainant, v. Gary Locke, Secretary, Department of Commerce, (Bureau of the Census), Agency.
Carmen I. Velez,
Complainant,
v.
Gary Locke,
Secretary,
Department of Commerce,
(Bureau of the Census),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120101561
Agency No. 10-63-00019D
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that the agency in its decision dated
January 26, 2010, improperly dismissed complainant's complaint for failure
to state a claim and due to the untimely filing of the formal complaint
pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.107(a)(1) and (2). In her complaint,
dated December 17, 2009, complainant, a former Partnership Specialist,
GG/0301, with the Chicago Regional Census Center, alleged discrimination
in reprisal (unspecified) when she was terminated from her employment
at the agency effective October 5, 2009.
The agency stated that complainant's complaint failed to state a claim.
Specifically, the agency stated that although complainant alleged
reprisal, she failed to show she engaged in any prior EEO activity.
However, complainant maintained that she believed that she was
discriminated against in reprisal because she previously told her
immediate supervisor her concerns about the Polish Community being upset
because the Census Questionnaire did not have an ethnicity line for
them to write their lineage on. 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, the ADEA, or the Rehabilitation
Act, or for participating in any stage of administrative or judicial
proceedings under those statutes. Upon review, we find that complainant's
foregoing action constitutes a prior EEO activity protected under EEO
statutes.
The agency also stated that on October 7, 2009, complainant initially
contacted an EEO Counselor regarding the alleged matter. Since the
alleged matter was not resolved informally, the agency sent the notice of
right to file a formal complaint to complainant's address of record which
the agency asserted was received by complainant on November 10, 2009.
However, we note that the agency failed to submit any evidence in the
record to support such receipt by complainant. On appeal, complainant
contends that she did not actually receive the notice of right to file a
complaint until December 17, 2009, and filed her complaint on that same
date. The agency proffers no evidence to rebut complainant's contentions
regarding complainant's actual receipt of the notice. Thus, we find that
complainant's filing of her complaint on December 17, 2009, was timely.
The agency's decision dismissing the complaint is REVERSED. The complaint
is REMANDED to the agency for further processing in accordance with the
Order herein.
ORDER (E0408)
The agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with
29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the complainant
that it has received the remanded claims within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue
to complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify
complainant 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 complainant requests a
final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision
within sixty (60) days of receipt of complainant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant 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 (K1208)
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 77960, Washington,
DC 20013. The agency's report must contain supporting documentation,
and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to the complainant.
If the agency does not comply with the Commission's order, the complainant
may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order. 29 C.F.R. �
1614.503(a). The complainant 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 complainant
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 complainant 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.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M1208)
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 77960,
Washington, DC 20013. 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 (R0408)
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 within ninety (90) calendar days from the date
that you receive this decision. 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 (Z1008)
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 from the Court that
the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also
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 with
the Court 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
6/10/10
__________________
Date
2
0120101561
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013