Carolyn B. Aidman, Complainant,v.Gary Locke, Secretary, Department of Commerce, (Bureau of the Census), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJun 24, 2010
0120101116 (E.E.O.C. Jun. 24, 2010)

0120101116

06-24-2010

Carolyn B. Aidman, Complainant, v. Gary Locke, Secretary, Department of Commerce, (Bureau of the Census), Agency.


Carolyn B. Aidman,

Complainant,

v.

Gary Locke,

Secretary,

Department of Commerce,

(Bureau of the Census),

Agency.

Appeal No. 0120101116

Agency No. 09-63-00788D

DECISION

Upon review, the Commission finds that the Agency's decision dated

December 24, 2009, dismissing Complainant's complaint due to untimely

filing of a formal complaint is proper pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �

1614.107(a)(2). The Agency's decision dismissing the complaint is

AFFIRMED.

BACKGROUND

The record indicates that Complainant, a former Partnership Specialist at

the Agency's Atlanta Regional Census Center, contacted an EEO Counselor

concerning her complaint. Unable to resolve the matter informally,

Complainant received a Notice of Final Interview & Notice to File a Formal

Complaint (FIN) on August 19, 2009. Complaint File (COM), at 54. In her

complaint, Complainant alleged discrimination based on national origin

(non-Hispanic) and race (White) when she was removed from her position

without any type of warning or preliminary discipline. COM, at 9-40.

Complainant also alleged discrimination based on her religion (Jewish)

when after the Agency Georgia Coordinator learned that she was Jewish,

he stopped meeting with her and refused to address her concerns with

the conduct of an Asian coworker. Id.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.106(a) requires that a complaint must be

filed with the agency that allegedly discriminated against the complaint.

The regulation further requires that a complaint must be filed within

15 days of receipt of the notice and must contain a signed statement

from the person claiming to be aggrieved or that person's attorney.

29 C.F.R. ��1614.106(b) and (c).

The record indicates that on August 23, 2009, Complainant, via FIN, was

clearly informed of the 15-day time limit to file her complaint signed

by her. However, Complainant did not file her signed formal complaint

until October 23, 2009, which was beyond the limitation period. COM,

at 93. Although Complainant contends that she filed her complaint on

September 2, 2009, via electronic mail, to the Agency, the complaint

did not contain her signature. On appeal, Complainant has not offered

adequate justification to warrant an extension of the time limit for

filing the complaint. Although Complainant argues that she did not "see"

a September 2, 2009 email from the Agency informing her that she needed

to sign her complaint, we note that Complainant does not argue that she

did not receive such an email.

Accordingly, the Agency's final decision is AFFIRMED.

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 (S0408)

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 (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

6/24/10

__________________

Date

2

0120101116

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013