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

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Apr 1, 2016

0120142196 (E.E.O.C. Apr. 1, 2016)

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

Lamar D.,1
Complainant,

v.

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

Appeal No. 0120142196

Agency No. 1G-754-0047-14

DECISION

Upon review, we find that the Agency’s decision dated April 30, 2014, dismissing
Complainant’s complaint for failure to state a claim is improper pursuant to 29 C.F.R.
§1614.107(a)(1).

The Agency in its decision identified Complainant’s complaint as alleging discrimination in
reprisal for prior EEO activity when on March 5, 2014, management made changes to his
route. In its decision, the Agency dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim since
Complainant was not subjected to any adverse action or was denied any entitlement in relation
to his employment. The Agency indicated that the route change at issue was not appreciably
different than what Complainant had and the compensation paid for his preferred assignment
was the same.

After a review of the entire record, we find that Complainant also alleged discrimination based
on disability (neck and back injury). Thus, we will consider the Agency’s failure to address
such as its dismissal of such a claim. In his complaint form, Complainant did not check any
boxes indicating the basis of the complaint. The EEO Counselor’s Report however indicates
that Complainant is alleging discrimination based on disability and retaliation. On appeal,
Complainant indicates he is alleging discrimination based on disability and retaliation.
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.

0120142196

2
Furthermore, Complainant clearly alleged in his complaint that the alleged incident occurred
since March 5, 2014, and continuing. Based on the foregoing, we find that the Agency
misidentified the complaint. In the instant complaint we find that Complainant alleged that:

He was discriminated against based on disability (neck and back injury) and in reprisal
for prior EEO activity when since March 5, 2014, and continuing, management made
changes to his route.

Turning to the Agency’s dismissal of the complaint, we find such dismissal improper.
Complainant claimed that due to management’s continuously changing his route, he often did
not have a time to take lunch and/or breaks, his route was delayed, his health was affected
causing him to miss days from work, and he ultimately received a discussion for his work
performance. Complainant also contends that management changed his routes more than
others’ routes and he was given the routes that were involved with areas with less accessibility
resulted in delays of his route. Under the circumstances of this case, we find that
Complainant’s claims were sufficient to state a claim.

Accordingly, the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's complaint is REVERSED
and the complaint is REMANDED to the Agency as defined in this decision for further
processing in accordance with this decision and the Order herein.

ORDER

The Agency shall redefine Complainant’s complaint as whether:

Complainant was discriminated against based on disability (neck and back injury) and in
reprisal for prior EEO activity when since March 5, 2014, and continuing, management
made changes to his route.

The Agency is ordered to process the foregoing remanded claims in accordance with 29
C.F.R. § 1614.108. The Agency shall acknowledge to the Complainant that it has received the
remanded claims within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. The
Agency shall issue to Complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify
Complainant 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
Complainant requests a final decision without a hearing, the Agency shall issue a final decision
within sixty (60) days of receipt of Complainant’s request.

A copy of the Agency’s letter of acknowledgment to Complainant 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.

0120142196

3
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION’S DECISION (K0610)

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 77960, Washington, DC
20013. 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 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)
(1994 & Supp. IV 1999). If the Complainant files a civil action, the administrative processing
of the complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated. See 29 C.F.R.
§ 1614.409.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0815)

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, P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013. 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.

0120142196

4
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 (R0610)

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 (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 1, 2016
Date