Edgar R. Figueroa, Appellant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionApr 16, 1999
01983732 (E.E.O.C. Apr. 16, 1999)

01983732

04-16-1999

Edgar R. Figueroa, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Edgar R. Figueroa v. United States Postal Service

01983732

April 16, 1999

Edgar R. Figueroa, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01983732

) Agency No. 4-G-780-0082-98

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The Commission finds that the agency erred in its March 23, 1998 decision

dismissing appellant's complaint on the basis of failure to state a claim,

pursuant to the provisions of 29 C.F.R.�1614.107(a).

The record shows that appellant alleged that he had been discriminated

against on the bases of race (Caucasian) and national origin (Puerto

Rican) when on November 19, 1997, he was harassed about working too

much overtime on the previous day.<1> The record further shows that

appellant alleged that while every one of his actions was questioned

"other employees were not". Appellant also alleged that while on the date

of the incident in question, his supervisor counted all his mail trays,

the supervisor had never done this with any other employee. Finally,

appellant claimed that after seeking medical attention as a result of

the stress caused by the incident in question, he was charged AWOL even

though he provided sufficient medical documentation.

In its final decision, the agency found that appellant had failed to

state a claim under EEOC Regulations with regard to the allegation that

on November 19, 1997, he was harassed about working too much overtime

on the previous day.

The Commission has consistently held that a remark or comment

unaccompanied by any concrete effect does not render the complainant

aggrieved. Fuller v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05910324 (May 2, 1991).

Nevertheless, in the present complaint appellant not only claims that

his supervisor made a remark concerning his overtime: he further claims

that his supervisor decided to check his mail trays even though he had

never done this to any other employee and that every one of his actions

was questioned. Appellant also claims that as a result of the stress

to which he was subjected by his supervisor, he had to seek medical

attention and that he was charged AWOL even though he provided sufficient

medical documentation.

Based on the foregoing, we find that the agency should have investigated

this complaint and not dismissed it for failure to state a claim: the only

questions for the agency to consider are whether appellant is aggrieved

and whether the complaint alleges employment discrimination on a basis

covered by EEO statutes. If the answer is yes, then the agency must

accept the complaint for processing, regardless of what it thought of

the merits. Odoski v. Department of Energy, EEOC Appeal No. 01901496

(April 16, 1990). In his complaint appellant claims that he, a Caucasian

Hispanic employee was harassed about his overtime, his mail trays counted,

stressed to the point of requiring medical attention and then charged

AWOL. This is sufficient to state a claim under EEOC Regulations.

Accordingly, the final agency decision dismissing the complaint was

inappropriate and is hereby REVERSED. The complaint is REMANDED for

further processing in accordance with this decision and applicable

regulations.

ORDER (E1092)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations in accordance

with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant

that it has received the remanded allegations within thirty (30) calendar

days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue to

appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify appellant

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 appellant requests a final decision

without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision within sixty

(60) days of receipt of appellant's request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to appellant 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 (K0595)

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 appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant 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. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,

the appellant 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. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. 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

appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0795)

The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this

case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing

arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:

1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available

when the previous decision was issued; or

2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,

regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or

3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial

precedential implications.

Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST

BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this

decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive

a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in

opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider

MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party

WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request

to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments

must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received

by the Commission.

Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your

request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances

have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,

a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the

delay and 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. �l6l4.604(c).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)

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. It is the position of the Commission that 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. You should be aware, however, that courts in some

jurisdictions have interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner

suggesting that a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR

DAYS from the date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your

civil action is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN

THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision

or to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the

jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)

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:

April 16, 1999

DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations

1 This is the manner in which the agency defines appellant's complaint.