Pamela D. White, Appellant,v.Louis Caldera, Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionAug 26, 1999
01992521 (E.E.O.C. Aug. 26, 1999)

01992521

08-26-1999

Pamela D. White, Appellant, v. Louis Caldera, Secretary, Department of the Army, Agency.


Pamela D. White v. Department of the Army

01992521

August 26, 1999

Pamela D. White, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01992521

) Agency No. AVEJFO9811I0760

Louis Caldera, )

Secretary, )

Department of the Army, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The Commission finds that the agency erred in its January 4, 1999

decision dismissing appellant's complaint on the basis of failure to

state a claim pursuant to the provisions of 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a).

The record shows that appellant filed a formal complaint alleging that

she had been discriminated against on the bases of race (Black), and

color (black) when: (1) on September 17, 1998, she received a midyear

performance counseling session; (2) on September 18, 1998, a coworker

harassed her and referred to her by a racial epithet; (3) she has

been constantly harassed by the same coworker when she continuously

monitors appellant's breaks and trips to the restroom, by asking other

employees about appellant, by telling others appellant does not work,

and by making comments about appellant's husband and stepdaughter; and,

(4) she has been told to work out her differences with the coworker in

question or "find another job".

The agency issued a final decision dismissing allegation (2) on the

grounds of failure to state a claim. The remaining allegations of

appellant's complaint were not addressed by the agency in its final

decision. On appeal, appellant provides statements prepared by several

of her coworkers to support her harassment claim.

The Commission has held that a remark or comment unaccompanied

by any concrete effect does not render the complainant aggrieved.

Fuller v. USPS, EEOC Request No. 05910324 (May 2, 1991). A review of

the record shows that allegation (b) raised a derogatory remark made by

one of appellant's coworkers. However, appellant's complaint does not

end there. In her formal complaint appellant also alleged that she was

continuously harassed by the same coworker who made the derogatory remark

against her. The complaint provides detailed and specific information

to support appellant's contentions: monitoring her breaks and trips to

the restroom, comments about her job performance, and comments about

appellant's husband and stepdaughter. Appellant also raised the issue

of a midyear performance counseling session which she claims was held

with the sole purpose of harassing her. Finally, appellant alleged

that when she has complained about the continuous harassment she has

been told to work it out or find another job.

We find that when considered together and treated as true, the dismissed

allegations are sufficient to state a claim of harassment. See Cobb

v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05970077 (March 13, 1997).

Accordingly, the final agency decision is REVERSED. Allegations (1),

(2), (3) and (4) are redefined as a claim of harassment and the claim

is REMANDED for further processing in accordance with this decision and

applicable regulations.

ORDER (E1092)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded claim of harassment in

accordance with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to

the appellant that it has received the remanded allegation within thirty

(30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency

shall issue to appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall

notify appellant 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 appellant

requests a final decision without a hearing, the agency shall issue a

final decision within sixty (60) days of receipt of appellant's request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgement to appellant 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.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)

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 appellant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the appellant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. �1614.503 (a). The appellant 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. �� 1614.408, 1614.409, and 1614.503 (g). Alternatively,

the appellant 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. �� 1614.408 and 1614.409. 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

appellant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. �1614.410.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0795)

The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this

case if the appellant or the agency submits a written request containing

arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:

1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available

when the previous decision was issued; or

2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,

regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or

3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial

precedential implications.

Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST

BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this

decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive

a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in

opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider

MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party

WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request

to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments

must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received

by the Commission.

Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your

request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances

have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,

a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the

delay and 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. �l6l4.604(c).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)

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. It is the position of the Commission that 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. You should be aware, however, that courts in some

jurisdictions have interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner

suggesting that a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR

DAYS from the date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your

civil action is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN

THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision

or to consult an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the

jurisdiction in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)

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:

August 26, 1999

DATE Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations