[Redacted], Helen E., 1 Complainant,v.Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Field Areas and Regions), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Sep 27, 2021

Appeal No. 2021003905 (E.E.O.C. Sep. 27, 2021)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Maricruz Y.,1 Complainant, v. Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Field Areas and Regions), Agency. Appeal No. 2022001360 Agency No. 4J-604-0194-21 DECISION Complainant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) from the Agency's final decision dated December 13, 2021, 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. BACKGROUND During the period at issue, Complainant worked for the Agency as a Letter Carrier at the Woodridge/Downers Grove Post Office in Woodridge, Illinois. On August 13, 2021, Complainant initiated EEO Counselor contact. Informal efforts to resolve her concerns were unsuccessful. On November 18, 2021, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected her to unlawful retaliation for prior protected EEO activity when: 1. On May 28, 2021, she was charged Absent Without Leave (AWOL); and 2. On or around June 14, 2021, her leave request was denied. 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. 2022001360 2 On December 13, 2021, the Agency issued the instant final decision. The Agency dismissed the formal complaint for 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 August 13, 2021, which it found to be well beyond the 45-day limitation period. The Agency found that Complainant had or should have had a reasonable suspicion of discrimination regarding her claims more than 45 days prior to her initial contact with the EEO Counselor. The instant appeal followed. Complainant submitted a statement stating she was not aware of the 45-day limitation period. 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 of the date of the matter alleged to be discriminatory or, in the case of a personnel action, within forty-five days of the effective date of the action. The Agency properly dismissed the formal complaint for untimely EEO counselor contact. The alleged discriminatory events occurred on May 28, 2021, and on or around June 14, 2021. However, Complainant did not initiate contact with an EEO Counselor until August 13, 2021, beyond the 45-days limitation period. Complainant had, or should have had, a reasonable suspicion of discrimination regarding her claims more than 45 days prior to her initial contact with an EEO Counselor. We also note the record contains an affidavit from a Supervisor, Customer Service attesting that she had been at Woodridge/Downers Grove Post Office since July 2020, and EEO posters identifying the pertinent limitation period were on the bulletin board as required. On appeal, Complainant has not presented any persuasive arguments or evidence warranting an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO Counselor contact. Therefore, we find that the Agency’s dismissal pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(2), on the grounds of untimely EEO Counselor contact, was proper. CONCLUSION The Agency’s final decision dismissing the formal complaint for untimely EEO Counselor contact is AFFIRMED. 2022001360 3 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 (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). 2022001360 4 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 April 6, 2022 Date