Robert Lussier, Complainant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 2, 2000
01992556 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 2, 2000)

01992556

03-02-2000

Robert Lussier, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Robert Lussier, )

Complainant, )

v. ) Appeal No. 01992556

) Agency No. 1B-012-0002-99

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

______________________________)

DECISION

On February 8, 1999, complainant filed a timely appeal of a January 11,

1999 final agency decision, which was received by him on January 15,

1999, dismissing his complaint for failure to state a claim and/or due

to untimely EEO Counselor contact.<1>

In its final decision, the agency identified the claim of complainant's

November 18, 1998 complaint as whether complainant was discriminated

against when two light duty employees were allowed to perform �date

stamping� duties for eight hours on September 18, 1998, while he was not

allowed to perform these duties for eight hours and he was reassigned

to a different light duty area on May 18, 1998. The agency stated that

complainant was not aggrieved since he failed to show that a term,

condition or privilege of his employment was harmed by the alleged

actions. The agency also stated that complainant's assignment occurred

on May 18, 1998, but he did not contact an EEO Counselor until October 7,

1998, which was beyond the requisite time limit.

On appeal, complainant, reiterating his complaint, contends that he became

aware of the alleged different treatment on the part of the agency on

September 18, 1998, when those individuals were allowed to perform the

�date stamping� duties.

Volume 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1)) provides that prior to a

request for a hearing in a case, the agency shall dismiss an entire

complaint that fails to state a claim pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.103.

In order to establish standing initially under 29 C.F.R. �1614.103, a

complainant must be either an employee or an applicant for employment

of the agency against which the claims of discrimination are raised.

In addition, the claims must concern an employment policy or practice

which affects the individual in his/her capacity as an employee or

applicant for employment. The agency shall accept a complaint from

any aggrieved employee or applicant for employment who believes that

he/she has been discriminated against by that agency because of race,

color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. 29 C.F.R. ��

1614.103 and .106(a). The Commission's Federal sector case precedent has

long defined an �aggrieved employee� as one who suffers a present harm

or loss with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment

for which there is a remedy. Diaz v. Department of the Air Force,

EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994).

In his complaint, complainant alleged that he was treated differently

than his coworkers concerning work assignment, i.e., the assignment of

�date stamping� duties. Upon review, we find that the complaint stated a

claim since complainant sustained a harm which affected a term, condition,

or privilege of his employment as a result of the alleged assignment.

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(1) requires that complaints of

discrimination be brought to the attention of the EEO Counselor within

45 days of the alleged discriminatory event, or the effective date of

an alleged discriminatory personnel action.

The Commission has adopted a �reasonable suspicion� standard (as opposed

to a �supportive facts� standard) to determine when the limitation period

is triggered under the EEOC Regulations. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(2);

Ball v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05880247 (July 6,

1988). Thus, the limitations period is not triggered until a complainant

should reasonably suspect discrimination, but before all the facts that

would support a charge of discrimination have become apparent.

Although the agency, in its final decision, stated that the alleged

incident occurred on May 18, 1998, we find that complainant did not

become aware of discrimination until September 18, 1998. Specifically,

complainant indicated that he became aware of the alleged discrimination

when he learned that his coworkers were given the assignment at issue

which he was previously denied. Upon review, we find that complainant

did not have a reasonable suspicion of discrimination until September

18, 1998, and he contacted an EEO Counselor on October 7, 1998, which

was within the 45-day time limit set by the regulations. The agency

proffered no evidence or argument to rebut this contention. Accordingly,

the agency's decision is REVERSED, and the complaint is REMANDED to

the agency for further processing in accordance with this decision and

applicable regulations.

ORDER (E1199)

The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded complaint in accordance with

64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656-7 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.108). The agency shall acknowledge

to the complainant that it has received the remanded complaint within

thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final.

The agency shall issue to complainant a copy of the investigative file

and also shall notify complainant of the appropriate rights within one

hundred fifty (150) calendar days of the date this decision becomes

final, unless the matter is otherwise resolved prior to that time.

If the complainant requests a final decision without a hearing, the

agency shall issue a final decision within sixty (60) days of receipt

of complainant's request.

A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to complainant and an

copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of

rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1199)

Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.

The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)

calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The

report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting

documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to the

complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's order,

the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order.

29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the right to file a

civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's order prior

to or following an administrative petition for enforcement. See 64

Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659-60 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408), and 29 C.F.R. �

1614.503(g). Alternatively, the complainant has the right to file a

civil action on the underlying complaint in accordance with the paragraph

below entitled "Right to File A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407

and 1614.408. A civil action for enforcement or a civil action on the

underlying complaint is subject to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. �

2000e-16(c)(Supp. V 1993). If the complainant files a civil action, the

administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition for

enforcement, will be terminated. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999)

(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409).

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M1199)

The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this

case if the complainant or the agency submits a written request containing

arguments or evidence which 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 to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, MUST BE FILED

WITH THE OFFICE OF FEDERAL OPERATIONS (OFO) WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR

DAYS of receipt of this decision or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS

OF RECEIPT OF ANOTHER PARTY'S TIMELY REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION. See

64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter

referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405). All requests and arguments must be

submitted to the Director, Office of Federal Operations, Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848, Washington, D.C. 20036. In the

absence of a legible postmark, the request to reconsider shall be deemed

timely filed if it is received by mail within five days of the expiration

of the applicable filing period. See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999)

(to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604).

The request or opposition must also include proof of service on the

other party.

Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your

request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances

prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation

must be submitted with your 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

(R1199)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date

that you receive this decision. In the alternative, you may file a

civil action AFTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) CALENDAR DAYS of the date

you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the

Commission. 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. Filing a civil

action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.

RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1199)

If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot

afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court appoint

an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you to file the

action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.;

the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �� 791, 794(c).

The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of

the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not extend your time

in which to file a civil action. Both the request and the civil action

must be filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above

("Right to File A Civil Action").

FOR THE COMMISSION:

March 2, 2000

DATE

Carlton

M.

Hadden,

Acting

Director

Office of Federal Operations

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision

was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that

the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative

(if applicable), and the agency on:

_______________ __________________________

Date Equal Employment Assistant

1On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's federal

sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations apply to all

Federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in the administrative

process. Consequently, the Commission will apply the revised regulations

found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable, in deciding the

present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also be found at the

Commission's website at WWW.EEOC.GOV.