[Redacted], Willie L., 1 Complainant,v.Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, (Food and Nutrition Service), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Feb 14, 2022

Appeal No. 2021004752 (E.E.O.C. Feb. 14, 2022)

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Office of Federal Operations P.O. Box 77960 Washington, DC 20013 Willie L.,1 Complainant, v. Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, (Food and Nutrition Service), Agency. Request No. 2022000378 Appeal No. 2021004752 Agency No. FNCS-2019-00176 Hearing No. 550-2019-00499X DECISION ON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION Complainant timely requested that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) reconsider its decision in Willie L. v. Department of Agriculture, EEOC Appeal No. 2021004752 (September 23, 2021). 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). 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. 3 2022000378 During the relevant time, Complainant was employed by the Agency as a Supervisory Information Technology Specialist in San Francisco, California. On December 11, 2018, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging the Agency discriminated against him based on race, sex, age, and in reprisal for prior protected activity when: he was issued a Letter of Reprimand; he was given a “Fully Successful” rating; he was issued a Letter of Caution; and he was assigned an excessive number of tasks, provided inconsistent direction, and held responsible for delays caused by others. Complainant claimed further that he was harassed when management gave him an unreasonable assignment deadline, he was criticized for a delayed assignment, a contractual employee was given an assignment without his knowledge, he was told not to share information about a prior EEO complaint, and was threatened with discipline if he continued to raise his voice to his manager. Following an investigation, Complainant requested a hearing before an EEOC Administrative Judge (AJ). The assigned AJ issued a summary judgement decision, finding no discrimination. Thereafter, the Agency issued a final order implementing the AJ’s decision. In EEOC Appeal No. 2021004752, the Commission affirmed the Agency’s final order implementing the AJ’s decision. In the instant request for reconsideration, we note that the arguments raised were either raised during the original appeal from the Agency’s final decision or could have been raised below. 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), Chap. 9 § VI.A (Aug. 5, 2015); 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. 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. 2021004752 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 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. 4 2022000378 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 14, 2022 Date