01A30507
03-05-2003
Connie L. Jacobson, Complainant, v. Dr. James G. Roche, Secretary, Department of the Air Force, Agency.
Connie L. Jacobson v. Department of the Air Force
01A30507
March 5, 2003
.
Connie L. Jacobson,
Complainant,
v.
Dr. James G. Roche,
Secretary,
Department of the Air Force,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A30507
Agency No. 9V1M02331
DECISION
Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from an agency decision
pertaining to her complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in
violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as
amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. The Commission accepts the appeal
in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405.
Complainant contacted the EEO office regarding claims of discrimination
based on sex. Informal efforts to resolve complainant's concerns
were unsuccessful. Subsequently, complainant filed a formal complaint
claiming:
On May 8, 2002, she was informed by a co-worker that complainant's acting
supervisor made verbal derogatory statements about complainant to other
co-workers. The acting supervisor stated that complainant was a slut,
gives blow jobs in the parking lot, and has slept with more men in three
years that she (the acting supervisor) has in her whole life.
On September 12, 2002, the agency issued a decision dismissing the
complaint for failure to state a claim. The agency reasoned that although
the alleged statements were �inappropriate and offensive� they did not
affect complainant's employment status or cause any personal harm.
The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) provides, in
relevant part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint 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,
.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. Diaz v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request
No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).
Here, complainant contends she was discriminated against when she learned
that an acting supervisor made derogatory comments about her on May
8, 2002. 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. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request
No. 05960227 (June 10, 1996); Henry v. United States Postal Service, EEOC
Request No. 05940695 (February 9, 1995). While complainant argues that
the remarks have �created an extremely stressful and uncomfortable work
environment�, we do not find she has shown that the incident resulted in a
personal harm or loss to a term, condition or privilege of her employment.
Further, the Commission finds complainant's claim that the remarks �impede
[her] chances for promotion� to be merely speculative.
Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss the complaint was proper
and is hereby AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0701)
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 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 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 (S0900)
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 (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:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
March 5, 2003
__________________
Date