Carmen M. Reagan, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 19, 1999
01985400 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 19, 1999)

01985400

11-19-1999

Carmen M. Reagan, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Carmen M. Reagan, )

Complainant, )

)

v. )

) Appeal No. 01985400

William J. Henderson, ) Agency No. 1-H-3360104-98

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

Complainant filed the instant appeal with this Commission from a

final agency decision (FAD) 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.<1> The FAD

was received by complainant on June 22, 1998. Accordingly, the appeal

is timely (see 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified at

29 C.F.R. �1614.402(a))), and is accepted in accordance with EEOC Order

No. 960, as amended.

The complainant alleged that she was discriminated against on the bases of

race (Hispanic), religion (Jehovah Witness), sex (female), and retaliation

(prior EEO activity) when on March 13, 1998 complainant's supervisor

stated he was going to send her a �where are you� letter.

The agency dismissed complainant's complaint for failure to state a claim.

Specifically, the agency found that complainant did not suffer any harm

with regard to the terms and conditions of her employment. The FAD also

noted that a comment unaccompanied by concrete effect is insufficient

to state a claim.

EEOC Regulation 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999) (to be codified

at 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(1)) provides, in relevant part, that an

agency shall dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, that fails to

state a claim. An agency shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved

employee or applicant for employment who believes that he or she has been

discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion,

sex, national origin, age or disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. �1614.103;

�1614.106(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. See Diaz v. Department of the Air Force,

EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).

The Commission has repeatedly found that remarks or comments unaccompanied

by a concrete agency action are not a direct and personal deprivation

sufficient to render an individual aggrieved for the purposes of Title

VII. See Backo v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05960227 (June 10, 1996); Henry

v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05940695 (February 9, 1995). The Commission

determines that complainant's claim, relating to a purported announcement

by her supervisor that he was going to send complainant a �where are

you� letter, fails to state a cognizable claim under 29 C.F.R. �1614.

Accordingly, the agency's decision dismissing complainant's complaint

is hereby AFFIRMED for the reasons set forth herein.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M1199)

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). 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).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)

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:

November 19, 1999

____________________________

DATE Carlton M. 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:

______________________

__________________________

1On 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.