Frank H. Bielo, Jr., Complainant,v.Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, Department of Transportation, (Federal Aviation Administration) Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionApr 27, 2000
01a00570 (E.E.O.C. Apr. 27, 2000)

01a00570

04-27-2000

Frank H. Bielo, Jr., Complainant, v. Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, Department of Transportation, (Federal Aviation Administration) Agency.


Frank H. Bielo, Jr., )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01A00570

) Agency No. 1-99-1049

Rodney E. Slater, )

Secretary, )

Department of Transportation, )

(Federal Aviation Administration) )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

On October 29, 1999, complainant filed a timely appeal with this

Commission from a final agency decision (FAD) pertaining to his

complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of the

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended, 29

U.S.C. � 621 et seq.<1> The Commission accepts the complaint pursuant

to 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified at 29 C.F.R. �

1614.405). For the reasons set forth below, we VACATE the FAD and REMAND

the complaint to the agency for a supplemental investigation consistent

with the ORDER below.

On January 13, 1999, complainant contacted the EEO office regarding his

claim of age discrimination. Informal efforts to resolve his concerns

were unsuccessful. Accordingly, on March 16, 1999, complainant filed a

formal complaint claiming that he was not hired for the position of Air

Traffic Control Specialist (Position) because of age discrimination.

The agency issued a FAD dismissing the complaint for untimely EEO

counselor contact. Specifically, the agency found that complainant was

aware of the discrimination as early as April 13, 1998, when he wrote a

letter to his United States Senator complaining about his non-selection

for the position, but that complainant did not contact the EEO office

until January 13, 1999, many months after the expiration of the 45 day

time limitation.

Volume 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(1)) requires that

complaints of discrimination should be brought to the attention of the

Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor within forty-five (45) days of

the date of the matter alleged to be discriminatory or, in the case of

a personnel action, within forty-five (45) days of the effective date

of the action. The Commission has adopted a "reasonable suspicion"

standard (as opposed to a "supportive facts" standard) to determine

when the forty-five (45) day limitation period is triggered. See Howard

v. Department of the Navy, EEOC Request No. 05970852 (February 11, 1999).

Thus, the time limitation is not triggered until a complainant reasonably

suspects discrimination, but before all the facts that support a charge

of discrimination have become apparent.

Our review of the record discloses that in complainant's April 13,

1998, letter to his Senator, he questions the methodology used by the

agency in hiring for the position, stating the following: �I have not

been considered for rehire and would like to know if it is because

of experience or age, in other word (sic), I would like to know how

I am being judged.� Therefore, because complainant specifically

mentions age as a factor, we find that he had, or should have had,

a reasonable suspicion at this point that his non-selection may have

been discriminatory.

However, further review of the record additionally discloses that

complainant may have been unaware of his rights under the EEO process.

In this regard we note that the agency's written response to the Senator's

letter, dated June 24, 1998, explained its selection process, but failed

to mention that complainant may have recourse through the EEO process

if he suspected discrimination in his non-selection. Moreover, in a

letter dated January 13, 1999, which served as complainant's initial EEO

contact, complainant stated that he had worked in the private sector,

and only learned that he could pursue a claim of age discrimination with

a federal agency on December 31, 1998, when a friend who is knowledgeable

of the EEO complaint process informed him of this recourse.

The FAD did not address the issue of whether complainant had been aware

of the EEO complaint process at the time the alleged discrimination

occurred, or at any time up until he claimed to learn of it for the

first time on December 31, 1998. It is the Commission's policy that

constructive knowledge will be imputed when an employer has fulfilled

its obligation of informing employees of their rights and obligations

under the EEO process. Thompson v. Department of the Army, EEOC Request

No. 05910474 (September 12, 1991). However, the Commission has held

that a generalized affirmation that an agency posted EEO information,

without specific evidence that any poster or other method of providing

required information contained notice of the time limits, is insufficient

for constructive knowledge of the time limits for EEO Counselor contact.

Pride v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05930134 (August 19, 1993). In the

instant case, the record is devoid of any evidence regarding whether the

agency provided any information of any kind to the complainant regarding

the availability of the EEO process. We are, therefore, unable to

determine whether complainant had been informed of the availability of

the EEO process, including the necessity of initiating timely contact

with an EEO Counselor.

Accordingly, the agency's decision is VACATED and the complaint is

REMANDED to the agency for further processing in accordance with this

decision and the Order below.

ORDER

The agency is ORDERED to take the following action:

The agency is ORDERED to conduct a supplemental investigation to ascertain

whether complainant had been informed of the availability of the EEO

process, including the necessity for initiating contact with an EEO

Counselor, and the time limits for doing so. The agency must specifically

identify when and how complainant was informed of the EEO process.

Thereafter, the agency will issue a final decision or notify complainant

that the agency is processing his complaint. The supplemental

investigation and issuance of the final decision or notice of processing

must be completed within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this

decision become final. A copy of the agency new final decision or notice

of processing must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

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 (M0300)

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); 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 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).

COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION

(R0400)

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:

April 27, 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 Equal Employment Assistant1On 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.