[Redacted], Billi D., 1 Complainant,v.Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Nov 4, 2021

Appeal No. 2021004458 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 4, 2021)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Billi D.,1 Complainant, v. Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency. Appeal No. 2021004458 Agency No. 4J-604-0077-21 DECISION Complainant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) from the Agency's decision dated July 6, 2021, dismissing her complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended and 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. For the following reasons, the Commission AFFIRMS the Agency’s final order. BACKGROUND At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a City Carrier, PS-02, at the Agency’s Bensenville Post Office in Bensenville, IL. On February 12, 2021, Complainant sought EEO counseling alleging that she was subjected to harassment. When the matter could not be resolved informally, Complainant was issued a Notice of Right to File (Notice) on May 12, 2021. The Notice specified that the formal complaint must be filed within 15 calendar days of receipt of the Notice. The record indicates that Complainant received the Notice on May 13, 2021. On June 14, 2021, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her to discrimination on the basis of reprisal for prior protected EEO activity when: 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. 2021004458 2 1. In January 2021, Complainant’s supervisor and postmaster began harassing her and engaging in disrespectful behavior towards her. On July 6, 2021, the Agency issued its final decision dismissing the formal complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(2), finding that the formal complaint was untimely filed. The Agency determined that the formal complaint was filed more than 15 days after Complainant had received the Notice on May 13, 2021. The instant appeal followed without specific comment. 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 15 days of receiving notice of the right to do so. Based on a thorough review of the record, we determine that the Agency's dismissal, due to the untimely filing of the formal complaint, was proper. Here, following receipt of the Notice on May 13, 2021, Complainant was instructed to file her formal complaint within the requisite 15- day period. However, Complainant filed her formal complaint on June 14, 2021, beyond the limitation period set forth in the regulations. On appeal, Complainant has not indicated any reason for this delay. Furthermore, the record does not contain any documentation relating to any extension of the period to file a formal complaint. In sum, Complainant has not presented any justification for extending the limitation period beyond the 15-day period. CONCLUSION The Agency’s final decision to dismiss the formal complaint for untimely filing is AFFIRMED. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL RECONSIDERATION (M0920) The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider this appellate decision if Complainant or the Agency submits a written request that contains arguments or evidence that 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 for reconsideration must be filed with EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this decision. If the party requesting reconsideration elects to file a statement or brief in support of the request, that statement or brief must be filed together with the request for reconsideration. A party shall have twenty 2021004458 3 (20) calendar days from receipt of another party’s request for reconsideration within which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. 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). Complainant should submit his or her request for reconsideration, and any statement or brief in support of his or her request, via the EEOC Public Portal, which can be found at https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/Portal/Login.aspx Alternatively, Complainant can submit his or her request and arguments to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, via regular mail addressed to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail addressed to 131 M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. In the absence of a legible postmark, a complainant’s request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if OFO receives it by mail within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.604. An agency’s request for reconsideration must be submitted in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP). See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403(g). Either party’s request and/or statement or brief in opposition must also include proof of service on the other party, unless Complainant files his or her request via the EEOC Public Portal, in which case no proof of service is required. Failure to file within the 30-day time period will result in dismissal of the party’s request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation must be submitted together with the 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. 2021004458 4 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 November 4, 2021 Date