01983218
05-26-2000
James A. Smith, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
James A. Smith, )
Complainant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01983218
) Agency No. 4-H-300-0217-97
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
________________________________)
DECISION
Complainant filed the instant appeal from the agency's February 11, 1998
decision dismissing complainant's complaint for failure to timely contact
an EEO Counselor.<1> The agency defined the complaint as alleging that
complainant was discriminated against on June 9, 1997 when he was forced
to resign and when he was denied leave. The agency found, and the EEO
Counselor's report shows, that complainant initially contacted an EEO
Counselor on August 11, 1997.
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)) provides that
an aggrieved person must contact an EEO Counselor within 45 days of the
matter alleged to be discriminatory. The 45 day time limit shall be
extended when an individual shows that he was not notified of the time
limits and was not otherwise aware of them or that he did not know and
reasonably should not have known that the discriminatory matter occurred.
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)(2)).
On appeal complainant argues that he was unaware of the time deadline for
contacting an EEO Counselor. Constructive knowledge of the time limit
may be imputed to individuals. Thompson v. Department of the Army, EEOC
Request No. 05910474 (Sept. 12, 1991) (citing Kale v. Combined Ins. Co. of
America, 861 F.2d 746 (1st Cir. 1988)). In the instant matter the agency
has failed to produce any evidence showing that complainant had actual
or constructive notice of the time limit for contacting an EEO Counselor.
For instance, the agency has not supplied a copy of any EEO poster(s) or
an affidavit describing the location of the poster(s) during the relevant
time period. Therefore, we can not find that complainant had actual or
constructive notice of the time limit for contacting an EEO Counselor.
The Commission shall remand the complaint to the agency so that the agency
may supplement the record with evidence showing whether complainant had
actual or constructive notice of the time limit for contacting an EEO
Counselor more than 45 days before he contacted an EEO Counselor.
The agency's decision dismissing the complaint is VACATED and we REMAND
the complaint to the agency for further processing in accordance with
this decision and applicable regulations.
ORDER
The agency shall investigate the issue of whether complainant had
actual or constructive knowledge of the time limit for contacting an
EEO Counselor more than 45 days before he contacted an EEO Counselor.
The agency shall supplement the record with copies of the EEO posters
(or affidavits describing the posters if the posters are unavailable) and
any other evidence showing that complainant was informed, or should have
known, of the time limits for contacting an EEO Counselor. The agency
shall redetermine whether complainant timely contacted an EEO Counselor.
Within 60 days of the date this decision becomes final the agency
shall either issue a letter to complaint accepting the complaint for
investigation or issue a new decision dismissing the complaint. A copy
of the letter accepting the complaint or new decision dismissing the
complaint must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced herein.
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:
May 26, 2000
DATE
Carlton
M.
Hadden,
Acting
Director
Office of Federal Operations
1On 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.