05980576
04-15-1999
Tabitha S. Hale, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Tabitha S. Hale v. United States Postal Service
05980576
April 15, 1999
Tabitha S. Hale, )
Appellant, )
) Request No. 05980576
v. ) Appeal No. 01961627
) Agency No. 4-H-310-1038-94
William J. Henderson, ) Hearing No. 110-95-8161X
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
)
DENIAL OF REQUEST TO RECONSIDER
On March 9, 1998, the United States Postal Service (hereinafter
referred to as the agency) timely initiated a request to the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (the Commission) to reconsider the
decision in Tabitha S. Hale v. Marvin T. Runyon, Jr., Postmaster
General, United States Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 01961627
(February 5, 1998). EEOC regulations provide that the Commissioners
may, in their discretion, reconsider any previous Commission decision.
29 C.F.R. �1614.407(a). The party requesting reconsideration must submit
written argument or evidence which tends to establish one or more of
the following three criteria: new and material evidence is available
that was not readily available when the previous decision was issued,
29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(1); the previous decision involved an erroneous
interpretation of law or regulation, or material fact, or a misapplication
of established policy, 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(2); and the decision is of
such exceptional nature as to have substantial precedential implications,
29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c)(3).
After a review of the agency's request to reconsider, the previous
decision, and the entire record, the Commission finds that the agency's
request fails to meet the criteria of 29 C.F.R. �1614.407(c), and it
is the decision of the Commission to deny the request. The decision
in EEOC Appeal No. 01961627 (February 5, 1998) remains the Commission's
final decision. The agency shall comply with the prior decision's ORDER,
as modified below.<0> There is no further right of administrative appeal
on the decision of the Commission on this Request to Reconsider.
ORDER (D1092)
The agency is ORDERED to take the following remedial action:
1. In accordance with EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.501(c), appellant
shall be placed in the position of letter carrier, subject to any
probationary period, with back pay and all benefits to which she
would have been entitled had she not been terminated from employment,
retroactive to the date when she would have been placed in the letter
carrier position absent the discrimination.
2. The agency shall determine the appropriate amount of back pay,
with interest, and other benefits due appellant, pursuant to 29
C.F.R. �1614.501, no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the date
this decision becomes final. The appellant shall cooperate in the
agency's efforts to compute the amount of back pay and benefits due,
and shall provide all relevant information requested by the agency.
If there is a dispute regarding the exact amount of back pay and/or
benefits, the agency shall issue a check to the appellant for the
undisputed amount within sixty (60) calendar days of the date the
agency determines the amount it believes to be due. The appellant may
petition for enforcement or clarification of the amount in dispute.
The petition for clarification or enforcement must be filed with the
Compliance Officer, at the address referenced in the statement entitled
"Implementation of the Commission's Decision."
3. The agency is directed to conduct training for the officials
responsible for the discrimination against appellant. The agency shall
address these employees' responsibilities with respect to eliminating
discrimination in the Federal workplace and all other supervisory and
managerial responsibilities under equal employment law.
4. The agency is further directed to submit a report of compliance, as
provided in the statement entitled "Implementation of the Commission's
Decision." The report shall include supporting documentation of the
agency's calculation of back pay and other benefits due appellant,
including evidence that the corrective action has been implemented.
POSTING ORDER (G1092)
The agency is ORDERED to post at its Augusta, Georgia, Main Office copies
of the attached notice. Copies of the notice, after being signed by the
agency's duly authorized representative, shall be posted by the agency
within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final,
and shall remain posted for sixty (60) consecutive days, in conspicuous
places, including all places where notices to employees are customarily
posted. The agency shall take reasonable steps to ensure that said
notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material. The
original signed notice is to be submitted to the Compliance Officer
at the address cited in the paragraph entitled "Implementation of the
Commission's Decision," within ten (10) calendar days of the expiration
of the posting period.
ATTORNEY'S FEES (H1092)
If appellant has been represented by an attorney (as defined by
29 C.F.R. � 1614.501(e)(1)(iii)), he/she is entitled to an award of
reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the processing of the complaint. 29
C.F.R. � 1614.501(e). The award of attorney's fees shall be paid by the
agency. The attorney shall submit a verified statement of fees to the
agency -- not to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of
Federal Operations -- within thirty (30) calendar days of this decision
becoming final. The agency shall then process the claim for attorney's
fees in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.501.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0595)
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 appellant. If
the agency does not comply with the Commission's order, the appellant
may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order. 29 C.F.R. �
1614.503(a). The appellant 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 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.408,
1614.409, and 1614.503(g). Alternatively, the appellant 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. ��
1614.408 and 1614.409. 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 (Supp. V 1993). If the appellant files a civil action,
the administrative processing of the complaint, including any petition
for enforcement, will be terminated. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.410.
RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0993)
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. 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. 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 (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:
April 15, 1999
Date Frances M. Hart
Executive Officer
Executive Secretariat
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
POSTED BY ORDER OF THE
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
An Agency of the United States Government
This Notice is posted pursuant to an Order by the United States Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission dated _________ which found that a
violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
42 U.S.C. �2000e et seq., has occurred at this facility.
Federal law requires that there be no discrimination against any employee
or applicant for employment because of the person's RACE, COLOR, RELIGION,
SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, or PHYSICAL or MENTAL DISABILITY with respect
to hiring, firing, promotion, compensation, or other terms, conditions
or privileges of employment.
The United States Postal Service, Augusta, Georgia Main Office, supports
and will comply with such Federal law and will not take action against
individuals because they have exercised their rights under law.
The United States Postal Service, Augusta, Georgia Main Office, has
been found to have discriminated against an employee based on her sex by
removing her rather than reassigning her, and has been ordered to place
the individual in a letter carrier position with an award of back pay.
The United States Postal Service, Augusta, Georgia Main Office, will
ensure that officials responsible for personnel decisions and terms and
conditions of employment will abide by the requirements of all Federal
equal employment opportunity laws and will not retaliate against employees
who file EEO complaints.
The United States Postal Service, Augusta, Georgia Main Office, will
not in any manner restrain, interfere, coerce, or retaliate against
any individual who exercises his or her right to oppose practices made
unlawful by, or who participates in proceedings pursuant to, Federal
equal employment opportunity law.
_____________________________
Date Posted: _____________________
Posting Expires: __________________
29 C.F.R. Part 1614
01 We have modified the prior decision's order to specify that appellant
is required to satisfy the probationary period, if any, for the position
of letter carrier.