Cheryll K.,1 Complainant,v.Eric Fanning, Acting Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency.Download PDFEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionFeb 17, 20160120141301 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 17, 2016) Copy Citation U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Cheryll K.,1 Complainant, v. Eric Fanning, Acting Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency. Appeal No. 0120141301 Agency No. ARSHAFTER13DEC04136 DECISION Upon review, the Commission finds that the Agency’s final decision dated January 24, 2014, dismissing Complainant’s complaint due to untimely EEO Counselor contact is improper pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(2). The Agency, undisputed by Complainant, identified her claim in the instant complaint, dated January 5, 2014, as whether she was discriminated against based on sex (female) and in reprisal for prior EEO activity when on August 21, 2013, she became aware that she would not be promoted to a GS-13 Supply Systems Analyst position. By solely relying on the EEO Counselor’s Report, the Agency dismissed the complaint stating that Complainant’s EEO Counselor contact regarding the matter on November 25, 2013, was untimely. EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. § 1614.105(a)(1) requires that complaints of discrimination be brought to the attention of the EEO Counselor within 45 days of the alleged discriminatory event, or the effective date of an alleged discriminatory personnel action. On appeal, Complainant provides a copy of an email message, dated February 3, 2014, she received from an identified Agency EEO employee confirming her initial visit to the EEO office on September 13, 2013, concerning the alleged matter. In response, the Agency proffers no evidence disputing Complainant’s foregoing EEO contact. Based on the foregoing, we find 1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website. 0120141301 2 that Complainant’s EEO contact on September 13, 2013, regarding the August 21, 2013 nonpromotion was within the 45-day time limit set by the regulations. In addition, we note that in her complaint, Complainant also indicated that she was forced to move to a different location and her coworker was given the option to stay or move to the same location that she was forced to move to; she was given a letter of concern, dated September 23, 2013, by her immediate supervisor; and she was being monitored and questioned on every move she made within her work environment. It appears that Complainant did not bring these matters to the attention of an EEO Counselor. Thus, Complainant is advised to contact an EEO Counselor regarding these matters if she wishes to further pursue the matters. We do not address whether such issues would be considered timely raised. Accordingly, the Agency’s final decision dismissing Complainant’s complaint is REVERSED and the complaint is REMANDED to the Agency for further processing in accordance with this decision and the Order herein. ORDER (E0610) 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 (K0610) 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. 0120141301 3 § 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 (M0815) 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), at Chap. 9 § VII.B (Aug. 5, 2015). 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 (R0610) 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 0120141301 4 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 (Z0815) If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs. Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole discretion to grant or deny these types of requests. Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled Complainant’s Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits). FOR THE COMMISSION: ______________________________ Carlton M. Hadden’s signature Carlton M. Hadden, Director Office of Federal Operations February 17, 2016 Date Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation