Tracee L. Bradley, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionNov 24, 2004
01a44628 (E.E.O.C. Nov. 24, 2004)

01a44628

11-24-2004

Tracee L. Bradley, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.


Tracee L. Bradley v. United States Postal Service

01A44628

11-24-04

.

Tracee L. Bradley,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A44628

Agency No. 4C-440-0165-04

DECISION

On June 30, 2004, Tracee L. Bradley (complainant) filed an appeal from

the agency's final decision dated June 7, 2004, dismissing complainant's

complaint of unlawful employment discrimination in violation of Title

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

seq., and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended,

29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq. The appeal is timely filed (see 29 C.F.R. �

1614.402(a)) and is accepted in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405.

At the time of the events herein, complainant worked as a rural carrier

in Ohio. In her formal complaint, she claimed that based on her sex

and age (DOB 7-17-1960), the agency discriminated against her when,

(a) on various dates from October 2003, to February 2004, a supervisor

"badgered" her in regard to her work performance; and, (b) on various

dates in February through March 2004, another supervisor harassed her in

regard to her work performance. Complainant also stated that a supervisor

told her to 'clean up' her area, to work faster, and called her "girlie."

In its final decision, the agency dismissed the complaint for failure

to state a claim, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1). The agency

held that complainant was not an aggrieved employee, that is, one who

suffers a present harm or loss with respect to a term, condition, or

privilege of employment, since the two incidents cited did not rise to

the level of illegal harassment based on sex or age. In various, undated

papers submitted with her appeal, complainant referred to matters in the

grievance process, a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, and incidents

of criticism on her work performance.

The Commission finds that even if proven true, the facts stated by

complainant do not indicate that she was subjected to harassment that

was sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of her

employment. See Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986);

Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993). For this

reason the Commission finds that the complainant's complaint does not

state a claim under our regulations and is properly dismissed.<1> See

Phillips v. Department of Veterans Affairs, EEOC Request No. 05960030

(July 12, 1996) (allegations that the supervisor had "verbally attacked"

the complainant on one occasion, attempted to charge him with AWOL,

and disagreed with the time the complainant entered into a sign-in log,

were insufficient to state a harassment claim); Backo v. United States

Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05960227 (June 10, 1996) (a supervisor's

remarks on several occasions, unaccompanied by any concrete action,

were not sufficient to state a claim); Miller v. United States Postal

Service, EEOC Request No. 05941016 (June 2, 1995) (an oral admonishment

was not sufficient to state a hostile work environment claim).

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the agency's decision is AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0701)

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

_____11-24-04_____________

Date

1The Commission also notes that statements regarding a complainant's work

performance, such as work assignments, instructions, and admonishments,

are within the routine business operations of the agency, and do not

establish a claim of harassment.