[Redacted], Wilburn R., 1 Complainant,v.Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary, Department of Commerce (Bureau of the Census), Agency.Download PDFEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionSep 27, 2021Appeal No. 2021003505 (E.E.O.C. Sep. 27, 2021) Copy Citation U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Wilburn R.,1 Complainant, v. Gina M. Raimondo, Secretary, Department of Commerce (Bureau of the Census), Agency. Appeal No. 2021003505 Agency No. 63-2020-00779D DECISION Complainant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) from the Agency's decision dated May 7, 2021, dismissing his complaint alleging 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 At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as an Administrative Manager, AD-0301-00, at the Agency’s New York Regional Census Center facility in New York, N.Y. On September 4, 2020, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected him unlawful retaliation2 for engaging in protected activity when he was terminated from his position on the grounds of unacceptable conduct and performance. 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 We note Complainant raised additional claims during counseling including, that he was harassed by the Area Census Office Manager and his request for a transfer was denied. (Complaint file, p. 24). However, Complainant did not raise these claims in his formal 2021003505 2 The Agency dismissed the formal complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1), for failure to state a claim, finding that reprisal was the exclusive basis raised in the formal complaint but Complainant had no prior protected activity. The Agency determined that Complainant cites his protected activity as expressing Covid-19 concerns The instant appeal followed. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS The regulation set forth at 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. To establish a prima facie claim of disparate treatment in reprisal for prior EEO activity a complainant must show that (1) he engaged in protected activity under the employment discrimination statutes, (2) the Agency was aware of the protected activity, (3) he was subject to adverse treatment by the Agency, and (4) a nexus exists between the protected activity and the adverse treatment. Whitmire v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Appeal No. 01A00340 (Sept. 25, 2000); Complainant v. General Services Administration, EEOC Appeal No. 0120131204 (Aug. 1, 2014). The record contains an EEO intake form where Complainant submits that he was wrongfully terminated in “retaliation for raising valid health and safety concerns about the operations of the Area Census Office . . . during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.” (Complaint file, p. 8). However, “raising valid health and safety concerns” in the context of the facts of this case does not amount to protected activity under the anti-discrimination statutes. At no point during the processing of his complaint, or now on appeal, did Complainant assert he previously participated in the EEO process, requested a reasonable accommodation for a disability, or otherwise opposed an agency policy or procedure on grounds that the alleged policy or procedure was discriminatory. Therefore, we find the Agency correctly dismissed the complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1), for failure to state a claim. Accordingly, we AFFIRM the Agency's dismissal of the complaint. 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. complaint. Consequently, we find that these additional issues are not before the Commission at this time. 2021003505 3 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). 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. 2021003505 4 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 September 27, 2021 Date Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation