01981185
03-30-1999
Douglas H. Stup, Appellant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Douglas H. Stup v. United States Postal Service
01981185
March 30, 1999
Douglas H. Stup, )
Appellant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01981185
) Agency No. 1K-221-0137-97
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
______________________________)
DECISION
Based on a review of the record, we find that the agency improperly
dismissed appellant's complaint, pursuant to EEOC Regulation 29
U.S.C. �1614.107(a), for failure to state a claim. Appellant alleged
that he was subjected to discrimination in reprisal for prior EEO activity
when:
On May 9, 1997, appellant's supervisor (S1), yelled at appellant,
"No talking, just case the mail;"
On May 13, 1997, and May 14, 1997, appellant was ordered to case mail in
letter case #41, and when he questioned why he had to do so, S1 yelled,
"Because I told you to;"
On May 14, 1997, S1 threatened appellant with disciplinary action if
he did not begin casing mail immediately.
Appellant further alleged that the foregoing incidents constituted
harassment which created a hostile work environment.
EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a) provides, in relevant part, that
an agency shall dismiss a complaint, or portion thereof, that fails to
state a claim. An agency shall accept a complaint from any aggrieved
employee or applicant for employment who believes that he or she has been
discriminated against by that agency because of race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, age or disabling condition. 29 C.F.R. �1614.103;
�1614.106(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).
As a preliminary matter, the Commission notes that in allegation (2),
appellant alleged that he was forced to case mail in a particular case
(#41), whereas the usual practice was to allow workers to case mail in
whatever case(s) was/were available. We find that for the purposes
of stating a cognizable claim under 29 U.S.C. �1614, the foregoing
constitutes harm to the terms, conditions, or privileges of appellant's
employment. Consequently, the agency erred in dismissing this allegation
for failure to state a claim.
The Commission has repeatedly found that remarks or comments unaccompanied
by a concrete agency action are not a direct and personal deprivation
sufficient to render an individual aggrieved for the purposes of
Title VII. See Backo v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05960227
(June 10, 1996); Henry v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05940695
(February 9, 1995). In the instant case, as the record contains no
evidence suggesting that the comments made to appellant were accompanied
by any concrete agency action, we find that, standing alone, allegations
(1) and (3) do not state a claim.
However, in Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17, 21 (1993),
the Supreme Court reaffirmed the holding of Meritor Savings Bank
v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57, 67 (1986), that harassment is actionable if
it is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the
complainant's employment. The Court explained that an "objectively
hostile or abusive work environment" is created when "a reasonable person
would find [it] hostile or abusive: and the complainant subjectively
perceives it as such. Harris, supra at 21-22. Thus, not all claims
of harassment are actionable. Where a complaint does not challenge
an agency action or inaction regarding a specific term, condition or
privilege of employment, a claim of harassment is actionable only if,
allegedly, the harassment to which the complainant has been subjected
was sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the
complainant's employment.
A complaint should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim unless
it appears beyond doubt that the complainant cannot prove a set of facts
in support of the claim which would entitle the complainant to relief.
The trier of fact must consider all of the alleged harassing incidents
and remarks, and considering them together in the light most favorable to
the complainant, determine whether they are sufficient to state a claim.
Cobb v. Department of the Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05970077 (March 13,
1997).
In the instant case, the record discloses that the incidents identified
in appellant's complaint occurred over a period of five days, and within
a short period of time from when he received counseling on another
EEO complaint he filed against S1. Viewing the complaint within this
context, and in a light most favorable to appellant, we find that the
agency erred in dismissing the complaint for failure to state a claim.
Accordingly, the agency's final decision is hereby REVERSED.
The complaint is REMANDED to the agency for further processing in
accordance with this decision and the Order below.
ORDER (E1092)
The agency is ORDERED to process the remanded allegations in accordance
with 29 C.F.R. �1614.108. The agency shall acknowledge to the appellant
that it has received the remanded allegations within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The agency shall issue to
appellant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify appellant
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 appellant requests a final decision
without a hearing, the agency shall issue a final decision within sixty
(60) days of receipt of appellant's request.
A copy of the agency's letter of acknowledgment to appellant and a 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 (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(c) (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.
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 (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:
March 30, 1999
____________________________
DATE Ronnie Blumenthal, Director
Office of Federal Operations