0120162481
10-03-2016
Nicolasa M.,1 Complainant, v. Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Southern Area), Agency.
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Nicolasa M.,1
Complainant,
v.
Megan J. Brennan,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Southern Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120162481
Agency No. 1G-754-0043-16
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's final decision dated June 22, 2016, dismissing a formal complaint of 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. and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq.
BACKGROUND
During the period at issue, Complainant worked as a Clerk at the Agency's Coppell, Texas facility.
On February 24, 2016, Complainant initiated EEO Counselor contact. Informal efforts to resolve her concerns were unsuccessful.
On June 5, 2016, Complainant filed the instant formal complaint. Therein, Complainant claimed that the Agency subjected her to discrimination on the bases of race, sex, and disability when:
between November 21, 2010 and November 21, 2013, she was incorrectly charged for Health and Life Insurance premiums and has not been reimbursed.
Complainant further alleged that it was not until February 9, 2016, when she learned that she was discriminated against because of her race, sex and disability when she learned that three named white males in her unit "were paid in full from the beginning. I am being denied my reimbursement by [Human Resource Manager]. She has refused to compensate me for benefits that should have been paid from the beginning."
In its June 22, 2016 final decision, the Agency dismissed the formal complaint on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2). The Agency determined that Complainant's initial EEO Counselor contact was on February 24, 2016, which it found to be well beyond the 45-day limitation period.
Further, the Agency dismissed the formal complaint on the alternative grounds of failure to state a claim, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1). Specifically, the Agency found that the matter raised therein was a collateral attack on Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) process concerning her health and life insurance premiums. The Agency stated that Complainant should have raised her allegations through the OWCP, not in the EEO complaint process.
The instant appeal followed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
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 personnel action, within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of the action.
Here, the Agency properly dismissed Complainant's complaint on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact. The alleged discriminatory events occurred sometime between November 21, 2010 and November 21, 2013. However, Complainant did not initiate contact with an EEO Counselor until February 24, 2016, well beyond the 45-day limitation period. Complainant had, or should have had, a reasonable suspicion of discrimination regarding her claim more than 45 days prior to her initial contact with an EEO Counselor.
On appeal, Complainant did not present persuasive arguments or evidence warranting an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO Counselor contact. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c). Complainant's assertion that she did not learn until February 2016 that other employees had requested reimbursement for their overpayment and were both paid in full, does not, under the facts of this case, excuse her long delay in seeking EEO counseling.
The Agency's final decision dismissing the formal complaint on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact is AFFIRMED.
Because we affirm the Agency dismissal for the reason stated herein, we will not address alternative dismissal grounds.
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
October 3, 2016
__________________
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.
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