Charlene Brown, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionFeb 9, 2000
01991398 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 9, 2000)

01991398

02-09-2000

Charlene Brown, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Charlene Brown, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01991398

) Agency No. 1D-271-0021-98

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

Complainant filed the instant appeal from the agency's decision dated

October 21, 1998 dismissing a portion of the complaint for failing

to state a claim pursuant to the regulation now set forth at 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37656 (to be codified as and hereinafter cited as

29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1)).<1> Although direct appeals of decisions

partially dismissing a complaint are no longer permissible under the

regulations revised on November 9, 1999, the agency has informed the

Commission that the remainder of the complaint was the subject of an

agency decision on June 18, 1999. Therefore, we shall consider the

instant appeal because there are apparently no remaining claims from

the instant complaint pending anywhere in the administrative EEO process.

The agency defined the complaint as alleging that complainant was

discriminated against on the bases of sex and retaliation when:

On April 27, 1998, complainant's supervisor told complainant to take 10

minute breaks although her sections takes 15 minute breaks.

On May 9, 1998, complainant's supervisor told complainant the supervisor

is going to start documenting what complainant does.

On May 20, 1998 complainant's supervisor made harassing comments about

people putting "her up to stuff."

On May 23, 1998 complainant would be put on the machine before the senior

person.

The agency accepted claims 1 and 4 for investigation and dismissed claims

2 and 3 for failure to state a claim. The agency found that complainant

was not aggrieved in claims 2 and 3.

The Commission finds that complainant may be attempting to raise a claim

of harassment. The agency has not contacted complainant to determine if

she is attempting to raise a claim of harassment. The agency also has not

considered whether the complaint as a whole states a claim of harassment.

Therefore, the Commission shall remand the complaint so that the agency

may contact complainant to clarify whether complainant's complaint is

more properly considered as one claim of harassment.

The agency's decision dismissing a portion of the complaint is VACATED

and we REMAND the complaint to the agency for further processing in

accordance with this decision and applicable regulations.

ORDER

The agency shall contact complainant to clarify whether she is attempting

to raise a claim of harassment. If complainant is raising a claim of

harassment, then the agency should consider whether the complaint as a

whole states a claim of employment discrimination. Within 60 days of

the date this decision becomes final the agency shall either issue a

letter to complainant accepting the complaint or issue a new decision

dismissing the complaint. A copy of the agency's letter of acceptance

or decision dismissing the complaint shall be sent to the Compliance

Officer as referenced herein.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1199)

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 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 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be

codified and hereinafter referred to as 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)(Supp. V 1993). If the complainant

files a civil action, the administrative processing of the complaint,

including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated. See 64

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

to as 29 C.F.R. �1614.409).

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).

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION

(R1199)

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 (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:

February 9, 2000

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:

_____________________ _________________________ Date

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.