Delbert S.,1 Complainant,v.Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Northeast Area), Agency.Download PDFEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionAug 29, 20160120143128 (E.E.O.C. Aug. 29, 2016) Copy Citation U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Delbert S.,1 Complainant, v. Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Northeast Area), Agency. Appeal No. 0120143128 Agency No. 1B-113-0027-14 DECISION Upon review, we find that the Agency’s final decision dated August 20, 2014, dismissing Complainant’s complaint for failure to state a claim is proper pursuant to 29 C.F.R. §1614.107(a)(1). In his complaint filed July 28, 2014, Complainant alleged discrimination based on race and color when: (1) on April 15, 2014, his supervisor treated him in an unprofessional and disrespectful manner in front of his union steward; and (2) on a date not specified, his supervisor treated him unprofessionally by undermining his position when he was not allowed to perform the duties of the position. With regard to claim (1), Complainant indicated that his supervisor treated him in a harsh manner in front of his union steward when he presented the supervisor with his report of vandalism to his locker. The supervisor indicated that on the date of the incident, Complainant told him about the vandalism done to his locker and in response, he merely told Complainant to write a statement about the incident. Later, stated the supervisor, Complainant told him that his locker was not vandalized; rather, it was cleaned by the workers. Complainant does not claim that the supervisor treated him in a similar manner on any another occasion; nor does he indicate that he was subjected to any disciplinary action as a result of the incident at issue. 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. 0120143128 2 With regard to claim (2), Complainant claimed that the supervisor undermined his position as a Group Leader/Custodian. However, upon review, we find that Complainant fails to provide any specific incident wherein which he was denied the duties of his position as a Group Leader/Custodian. After a review of the record, we find that Complainant was not aggrieved with regard to a term, condition or privilege of his employment as a result of the alleged incidents. See Diaz v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994). Although Complainant claimed that the alleged incidents constituted harassment, the Commission does not find that the alleged actions were sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of his employment such as to state a claim of harassment. See Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993); Cobb v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05970077 (March 13, 1997). Accordingly, the Agency’s final decision dismissing Complainant’s complaint is AFFIRMED. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL RECONSIDERATION (M0416) 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. The requests may be submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. 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 0120143128 3 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 (S0610) 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 (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 August 29, 2016 Date Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation