[Redacted], Pamala L., 1 Complainant,v.Antony J. Blinken, Secretary, Department of State, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Jul 29, 2021

Appeal No. 2020003330 (E.E.O.C. Jul. 29, 2021)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Pamala L.,1 Complainant, v. Antony J. Blinken, Secretary, Department of State, Agency. Appeal No. 2020003330 Hearing No. 570-2018-00497X Agency No. DOS-0362-16 DECISION Complainant filed a timely appeal, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.403, from the Agency’s April 28, 2020, final order concerning an equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint alleging employment discrimination in violation of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq. At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant was hired to be part of the Agency’s fellowship program as a Foreign Affairs Officer in Washington, D.C. On December 13, 2016, Complainant filed an EEO complaint, as amended, alleging discrimination and harassment by the Agency on the bases of disability (vision impairment) and reprisal for prior protected EEO activity when: 1. She was not provided effective reasonable accommodations for her disability; 2. On July 19, 2016, she learned the renewal of her fellowship with the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS) was rescinded; 3. On October 25, 2016, Complainant's ocean acidification duties were reassigned; 4. She was not provided a performance evaluation during her fellowship; 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. 2 2020003330 5. Her requests to attend meetings related to her portfolio were repeatedly denied; 6. Her requests for training and professional development were repeatedly denied; 7. Her requests for travel opportunities related to her portfolio were repeatedly denied; 8. She was subjected to a hostile work environment, characterized by, but not limited to, demeaning and derogatory comments, a lack of guidance and supervision, threats, intimidation and exclusion; 9. On February 3, 2017, the last day of her fellowship, her request for an updated SF-50 reflecting her employment information was denied; and 10. On February 6, 2017, she was not provided the opportunity to participate in the performance appraisal process. After its investigation into the complaint, the Agency provided Complainant with a copy of the report of investigation and notice of right to request a hearing before an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) Administrative Judge (AJ). Complainant timely requested a hearing. The Agency submitted a motion for a decision without a hearing. The AJ subsequently issued a decision by summary judgment in favor of the Agency. The AJ specifically found that Complainant obtained numerous accommodations for her vision impairment, coordinated by the Agency’s disability accommodation office, and Complainant did not show that the accommodations provided to her by the Agency were ineffective. The AJ further noted that Complainant alleged that she was denied training and travel opportunities, yet the record reflected that the Agency sent Complainant on four trips over the course of her fellowship and that Complainant participated in training about every other month or so. The AJ found no evidence that Complainant was treated differently than her colleagues with regard to travel and training opportunities. The AJ additionally observed that Complainant was provided the opportunity to participate in the performance appraisal process on the same terms as her colleagues and received her performance appraisal and an SF-50 at the conclusion of her fellowship. The AJ further noted that Complainant, like the other fellows, was hired for a one-year term, and found that she did not show that the termination of her fellowship after her one-year term was motivated by discriminatory or retaliatory animus. The AJ additionally found that Complainant did not establish that she was subjected to a hostile work environment, finding that Complainant did not show that she was subjected to demeaning or derogatory conduct. The AJ ultimately found that Complainant did not show that she was subjected to discrimination or a hostile work environment, as alleged. The Agency issued its final order adopting the AJ’s finding that Complainant failed to prove discrimination as alleged. The instant appeal followed. The Commission's regulations allow an AJ to grant summary judgment when he or she finds that there is no genuine issue of material fact. 29 C.F.R. § 1614.109(g). An issue of fact is “genuine” if the evidence is such that a reasonable fact finder could find in favor of the non-moving party. 3 2020003330 Celotex v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986); Oliver v. Digital Equip. Corp., 846 F.2d 103, 105 (1st Cir. 1988). A fact is “material” if it has the potential to affect the outcome of the case. In rendering this appellate decision we must scrutinize the AJ’s legal and factual conclusions, and the Agency’s final order adopting them, de novo. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405(a)(stating that a “decision on an appeal from an Agency’s final action shall be based on a de novo review…”); see also Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD- 110), at Chap. 9, § VI.B. (as revised, August 5, 2015)(providing that an administrative judge’s determination to issue a decision without a hearing, and the decision itself, will both be reviewed de novo). In order to successfully oppose a decision by summary judgment, a complainant must identify, with specificity, facts in dispute either within the record or by producing further supporting evidence, and must further establish that such facts are material under applicable law. Such a dispute would indicate that a hearing is necessary to produce evidence to support a finding that the Agency was motivated by discriminatory animus. Here, however, Complainant has failed to establish such a dispute. Even construing any inferences raised by the undisputed facts in favor of Complainant, a reasonable fact-finder could not find in Complainant’s favor. Upon careful review of the AJ’s decision and the evidence of record, as well as the parties’ arguments on appeal, we conclude that the AJ correctly determined that the preponderance of the evidence did not establish that Complainant was discriminated against by the Agency as alleged. Accordingly, we AFFIRM the Agency’s final order adopting the AJ’s decision. 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). 4 2020003330 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. 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. 5 2020003330 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 July 29, 2021 Date