01992038
03-30-2001
Stephen R. Bonick, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Stephen R. Bonick v. United States Postal Service
01992038
March 30, 2001
.
Stephen R. Bonick,
Complainant,
v.
William J. Henderson,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01992038
Agency No. 4-A-088-0148-98
DECISION
Upon review, the Commission finds that the complaint was properly
dismissed pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2), for untimely EEO
counselor contact.
Complainant sought EEO counseling on July 27, 1998, claiming that he
had been discriminated against on the basis of age when:
(1) on September 24, 1997, he was charged AWOL;
(2) he did not receive anything in writing or a letter of demand
concerning an AWOL adjustment; however, on an unspecified date, he was
�dunned for indebtedness� for a supposed adjustment due to the AWOL; and
(3) his PS Form 3971, Request for or Notification of Absence, for
September 24, 1997, was improperly handled.
On September 15, 1998, complainant filed a formal complaint that contained
the same matter for which he underwent EEO counseling, discussed above.
The agency dismissed the complaint on the grounds of untimely EEO
Counselor contact after finding that the matters raised in the complaint
occurred more than forty-five days prior to his initial EEO Counselor
contact of July 27, 1998.
A review of the record persuades the Commission that complainant
had, or should have had a reasonable suspicion of unlawful employment
discrimination regarding the matters addressed in claims 1 and 3 at the
time the alleged incidents of discrimination occurred in September 1997.
Regarding claim 2, the record reflects that in October 1997,
complainant's Supervisor issued a �Request for Notification of Absence�
which complainant received on October 29, 1997, wherein the absence of
September 24, 1997, was identified as �no call - no show.� Moreover,
by complainant's own admission on appeal, complainant was sent a letter
advising him about his debt. Specifically, we note that complainant
states that �the letter I received three months later [from September
1997], showed only a balance due with no explanation.� Complainant's
initial EEO Counselor contact on July 27, 1998, was untimely with regard
to the matters raised in all three claims of the instant complaint.
We find that no persuasive arguments or evidence have been presented
to warrant an extension of the time limit for initiating EEO contact.
Accordingly, the agency's final decision dismissing the complaint is
AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0900)
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 29
C.F.R. � 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for
29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), 9-18 (November 9, 1999). 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 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 (S0900)
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 (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:
______________________________
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
March 30, 2001
__________________
Date