0120171094
04-25-2017
Joan R.,1 Complainant, v. Dr. David J. Shulkin, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, Agency.
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Joan R.,1
Complainant,
v.
Dr. David J. Shulkin,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120171094
Agency No. 200J05372016104930
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's decision dated December 28, 2016, dismissing her complaint alleging unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Housekeeping Aide at the Agency's Jesse Brown VAMC facility in Chicago, Illinois.
On November 17, 2016, Complainant filed a formal EEO complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her to discrimination and a hostile work environment on the bases of sex (female) and reprisal when: (1) on September 27, 2016, a co-worker accused Complainant of taking his money to assist him in uploading his resume into USAJOBS; (2) on February 16, 2016, a named supervisor ("Supervisor"), accused Complainant of telling a co-worker that he had to work that day; (4) on February 16, 2016, the Supervisor commented that the Complainant had German Shepherd ears; (4) on February 19, 2016, the Supervisor told Complainant she was done with her; (5) on March 8, 2016, [named Agency official] violated the Complainant's limited duty work schedule when she placed Complainant on a heavy duty floor in the Bed Pavilion to work; (6) on March 15, 2016, the Supervisor threatened to charge Complainant with AWOL; (7) on March 26, 2016, Complainant was threatened with disciplinary action; (8) on July 25, 2016, and July 29, 2016, [named Agency official] yelled at Complainant for coming into the office early; and (9) on August 7, 2016, the Supervisor told Complainant not to linger in the hallway after morning huddle and not to talk to her.
The Agency dismissed the complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2), due to the untimely filing of the formal complaint. The instant appeal followed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2) states, in pertinent part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint which fails to comply with the applicable time limits contained in 29 C.F.R. � 1614.106, which, in turn, requires the filing of a formal complaint within fifteen (15) days of receiving the notice of the right to do so.
The record discloses that Complainant received the notice of right to file a formal complaint on October 28, 2016. Although the notice indicated that Complainant had to file a formal complaint within fifteen (15) calendar days of its receipt, Complainant did not file her formal complaint until November 17, 2016, which is beyond the limitation period. On appeal, Complainant has not offered any justification to warrant an extension of the time limit for filing the complaint.
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 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
April 25, 2017
__________________
Date
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.
---------------
------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
------------------------------------------------------------
2
0120171094
3
0120171094