U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Horace A.,1 Complainant, v. Norris Cochran, Acting Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Agency. Request No. 2021000818 Appeal No. 2020002715 Hearing No. 410-2018-00010X Agency No. HHS-CDC-0357-2016 DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION Complainant requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) reconsider its decision in Horace A. v. Dep’t of Health and Human Services, EEOC Appeal No. 2020002715 (October 14, 2020). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its discretion, grant a request to reconsider any previous Commission decision issued pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(a), where the requesting party demonstrates 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. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c). On June 2, 2018, Complainant filed an EEO complaint alleging that the Agency discriminated against him on the bases of race, sex, religion, color, disability, age, and reprisal when: 1. On May 24, 2016, he was the only person on his team to be relocated to the Chamblee campus, and he was not given workspace or equipment to perform his duties. 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. 2021000818 2 Subsequently, on July 13, 2016, he was assigned to a workspace in an area that was under construction. From May 2016 through September 2016, he was not given a proper workspace or equipment to perform his duties. 2. On May 27, 2016, he was told that his duties and position description were going to change and his supervisory title taken away. 3. From May 27, 2016 to present, he was placed in a new job position and was never given a new position description and work plan. 4. On May 27, 2016, his supervisor threatened him by stating that he was the only supervisor to terminate a GS-15 employee. 5. From May 2016 through December 2016, his reasonable accommodation equipment was not relocated to his new work location. 6. On June 30, 2016, his request for telework was denied. The Agency issued a decision finding that the Agency had asserted legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for its actions and that there was no discrimination proven. Complainant appealed, and the Commission’s prior decision affirmed the Agency’s decision. In his request, Complainant provides no evidence to warrant granting his request. The Commission emphasizes that a request for reconsideration is not a second appeal to the Commission. Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110) (Aug. 5, 2015), at 9-18; see, e.g., Lopez v. Dep't of Agric., EEOC Request No. 0520070736 (Aug. 20, 2007). Rather, a reconsideration request is an opportunity to demonstrate that the appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation of material fact or law, or will have a substantial impact on the policies, practices, or operations of the Agency. Complainant has not done so here. Complainant submitted no arguments in his prior appeal. The request for reconsideration is not the opportunity to raise arguments that could have been raised in the prior appeal. After reviewing the previous decision and the entire record, the Commission finds that the request fails to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(c), and it is the decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 2020002715 remains the Commission's decision. There is no further right of administrative appeal on the decision of the Commission on this request. COMPLAINANT’S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0610) This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right of administrative appeal from the Commission’s decision. 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 2021000818 3 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. 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 February 9, 2021 Date
