Hyman W.,1 Complainant,v.Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Southern Area), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Sep 26, 2018

0520180458 (E.E.O.C. Sep. 26, 2018)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013

Hyman W.,1
Complainant,

v.

Megan J. Brennan,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Southern Area),
Agency.

Request No. 0520180458

Appeal No. 0120161562

Agency No. 1G-331-0046-15

DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION

Complainant timely requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or
Commission) reconsider its decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120161562 (May 16, 2018). EEOC
Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion, grant a request to reconsider any
previous Commission decision issued pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(a), where the requesting
party demonstrates 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. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c).

In his underlying complaint, Complainant alleged that the Agency subjected him to unlawful
discrimination on the bases of race (African-American), color (black), and in reprisal for prior
protected EEO activity when: 1) his first level supervisor (“S1”) revoked a previously approved
change of schedule; 2) S1 interrupted his breaks and told him to get back to work; and 3) S1
instructed him to perform a certain way when servicing a Delivery Bar Code Sorter (“DBCS”)
machine.

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.
0520180458

2

In its final decision, the Agency found that Complainant had failed to prove discrimination as
alleged. On appeal, the Commission affirmed the Agency’s final decision, finding that the
Agency’s reasons for its actions were not shown to be pretextual and that the conduct alleged was
not sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a discriminatory hostile work environment.

In his request for reconsideration, Complainant does not address the issues on which the previous
is based except to concede that the record evidence did not support a finding of pervasive harassing
behavior. The Commission emphasizes that a request for reconsideration is not a second appeal
to the Commission. Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part
1614 (EEO MD-110), at 9-18 (Aug. 5, 2015); see, e.g., Lopez v. Dep't of Agric., EEOC Request
No. 0520070736 (Aug. 20, 2007). Rather, a reconsideration request is an opportunity to
demonstrate that the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact
or law, or will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the Agency.
We find that Complainant’s arguments do not demonstrate that the appellate decision involved a
clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law or will have a substantial impact on the
policies, practices, or operations of the agency. Accordingly, we find that Complainant has failed
to demonstrate that the Commission should reconsider its appellate decision.

After reviewing the previous decision and the entire record, the Commission finds that the request
fails to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c), and it is the decision of the Commission to
deny the request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120161562 remains the Commission’s
decision. There is no further right of administrative appeal on the decision of the Commission on
this request.

COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0610)

This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right of administrative appeal
from the Commission’s decision. 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.

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.

0520180458

3
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

September 26, 2018
Date