Shirley A. Temple, Appellant,v.William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 7, 1999
01983313 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 7, 1999)

01983313

01-07-1999

Shirley A. Temple, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Shirley A. Temple v. United States Postal Service

01983313

January 7, 1999

Shirley A. Temple, )

Appellant, )

)

v. ) Appeal No. 01983313

) Agency No. 4-C-440-0095-98

William J. Henderson, )

Postmaster General, )

United States Postal Service, )

Agency. )

)

DECISION

The appellant timely filed an appeal with this Commission from a final

decision, dated February 10, 1998, which the agency issued pursuant

to EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a). The Commission accepts the

appellant's appeal in accordance with EEOC Order No. 960, as amended.

The appellant alleged that based on her sex, age, and physical disability,

and in retaliation for her prior EEO activity, the agency did not allow

her to have representation at an EEO meeting and she did not get a

close-out interview.

The agency dismissed the appellant's complaint for failure to state a

claim of employment discrimination.

On appeal, the appellant contends that the agency did not have the right

to dismiss her complaint because she alleged discrimination based on

her sex, age, disability, and retaliation.

The proper focus for dismissals of individual EEO complaints under 29

C.F.R. �1614.107(a) is on whether the complainant is allegedly aggrieved

due to an unlawful employment practice in violation of Title VII of

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

the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 621 et

seq.; the Equal Pay Act, 29 U.S.C. 206(d); or the Rehabilitation Act,

as amended, 29 U.S.C. 791 et seq. Cobb v. Department of the Treasury,

EEOC Request No. 05970077 (March 13, 1997), citing Hishon v. King &

Spalding, 467 U. S. 69, 73 (1984) (complaint states a claim because

Title VII's prohibition of discrimination with respect to an employee's

"terms, conditions, or privileges of employment" includes benefits that

are part of an employment contract and benefits which an employer chooses,

but is not required, to provide its employees).

The question as to whether a complainant is allegedly aggrieved due to

an unlawful employment practice for which there is a remedy under the

Federal equal employment statutes, of necessity, requires a consideration

of whether the complainant has alleged unlawful discrimination regarding

hiring, termination, compensation, or other terms, conditions, or

privileges of employment. Cobb, supra. Even where a complaint does not

challenge an agency action or inaction regarding hiring, termination,

compensation or any other specific term, condition, or privilege of

employment, the complaint may still state a claim if the complaint

allegations are sufficient to state a hostile or abusive environment

claim. Id., citing Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17,

21 (1993) (harassment is actionable if it is sufficiently severe or

pervasive to alter the conditions of the complainant's employment).

The appellant's complaint concerns the agency's treatment of her in

the EEO process, not in the terms, conditions, or privileges of her

employment. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the appellant's

complaint does not state a claim of employment discrimination.

If the appellant is not satisfied with the way in which she has been

treated in the EEO process, she should contact the agency official in

charge of the EEO process with her concerns.

If the alleged mistreatment has adversely affected the processing

of a complaint, the appellant should also raise her concerns during

the processing of that complaint by informing the investigator, the

administrative judge, and the Office of Federal Operations if an appeal is

filed from a final agency decision on that complaint. Raising claims of

improper processing in violation of EEOC regulations or orders during the

processing of a complaint provides the agency an opportunity to correct

any deficiencies. Mount v. Department of the Air Force, EEOC Request

No. 05930931 (June 2, 1994). Raising such claims on appeal provides

the Commission an opportunity to correct harmful error. Id. Thereby,

a complainant may ensure that his or her concerns are addressed when

they can be remedied, either by the agency or by the Commission. Id.

Raising improper processing concerns during the processing of the

complaint also furthers the goal of administrative economy. Id.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, the Commission AFFIRMS the agency's

dismissal of the appellant's January 28, 1998 complaint.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0795)

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

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

arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:

1. New and material evidence is available that was not readily available

when the previous decision was issued; or

2. The previous decision involved an erroneous interpretation of law,

regulation or material fact, or misapplication of established policy; or

3. The decision is of such exceptional nature as to have substantial

precedential implications.

Requests to reconsider, with supporting arguments or evidence, MUST

BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive this

decision, or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive

a timely request to reconsider filed by another party. Any argument in

opposition to the request to reconsider or cross request to reconsider

MUST be submitted to the Commission and to the requesting party

WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS of the date you receive the request

to reconsider. See 29 C.F.R. �1614.407. All requests and arguments

must bear proof of postmark and 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 filed on the date it is received

by the Commission.

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

request for reconsideration as untimely. If extenuating circumstances

have prevented the timely filing of a request for reconsideration,

a written statement setting forth the circumstances which caused the

delay and 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).

RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0993)

It is the position of the Commission that 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.

You should be aware, however, that courts in some jurisdictions have

interpreted the Civil Rights Act of 1991 in a manner suggesting that

a civil action must be filed WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS from the

date that you receive this decision. To ensure that your civil action

is considered timely, you are advised to file it WITHIN THIRTY (30)

CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you receive this decision or to consult

an attorney concerning the applicable time period in the jurisdiction

in which your action would be filed. 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 (Z1092)

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:

January 7, 1999

Date Ronnie Blumenthal, Director

Office of Federal Operations