Rebecca J. Sellers, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 2, 2000
01993783 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 2, 2000)

01993783

11-02-2000

Rebecca J. Sellers, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Rebecca J. Sellers, )

Complainant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01993783

) Agency No. 4E-852-0033-99

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

____________________________________)

DECISION

INTRODUCTION

Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from an agency's

decision (FAD), dated March 12, 1999, dismissing her complaint of

unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the

Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq., and

the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended,

29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq.<1> The Commission hereby accepts the appeal in

accordance with 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)(to be codified at 29

C.F.R. � 1614.405).

BACKGROUND

Complainant initially contacted an EEO Counselor on November 5, 1998,

and subsequently filed a formal complaint on February 4, 1999. In her

complaint, complainant alleged that she was subjected to discrimination

on the bases of sex (female) and age (d.o.b. 4/21/52) when: (1) on October

26, 1998, a co-worker that she had a court restraining order against came

over to her case; and (2) on December 21, 1998, Supervisor S-1 called her

into his office and made accusations that she was harassing a co-worker.

The agency dismissed complainant's complaint for failure to state a claim.

This appeal, by complainant, followed.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

Volume 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999)(to be codified and hereinafter

cited as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1)) provides, in relevant part, that an

agency shall dismiss a complaint that fails to state a claim. An agency

shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved employee or applicant for

employment who believes that he or she has been discriminated against by

that agency because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or

disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.103, .106(a). The Commission's

federal sector case precedent has long defined an "aggrieved employee"

as one who suffers a present harm or loss with respect to a term,

condition, or privilege of employment for which there is a remedy.

Diaz v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21,

1994).

We find that claim (1) fails to state a claim. Complainant alleged that

she was discriminated against when a co-worker, who she had a court

restraining order against, came over to her case. The present claim

does not render complainant an �aggreived� employee. She has failed

to allege a personal harm or loss with respect to a term, condition,

or privilege of her employment in that the restraining order was not an

action by the agency, and it was not their responsibility to enforce it.

Claim (1) is, therefore, dismissed.

Further, the Commission has held that a remark or comment unaccompanied

by concrete action is not a direct and personal deprivation sufficient

to render an individual aggrieved. See Simon v. United States Postal

Service, EEOC Request No. 05900866 (October 3, 1990).

We find, therefore, that claim (2) also fails to state a claim.

Complainant alleged that she was discriminated against when S-1 made

accusations that she was harassing her co-worker. Claim (2) is merely

a remark or comment unaccompanied by concrete action. Claim (2) is,

therefore, dismissed.

CONCLUSION

The decision of the agency is hereby AFFIRMED.

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 (S0400)

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 (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:

11-02-00

Date Carlton M. Hadden, Acting Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days after it was mailed. I certify

that this decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

Date 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.