01A23054_r
08-13-2002
Roger L. Polk, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Roger L. Polk v. United States Postal Service
01A23054
August 13, 2002
.
Roger L. Polk,
Complainant,
v.
John E. Potter,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service,
Agency.
Appeal No. 01A23054
Agency No. 1C-443-0027-02
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from an agency
decision pertaining to his complaint of unlawful employment discrimination
in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII),
as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. The Commission accepts the appeal
in accordance with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405.
Complainant contacted the EEO office claiming that he was discriminated
against when: on January 4, 2002, he was verbally harassed by
the Supervisor of Customer Service concerning the stacking of
pallets. According to complainant, the supervisor became confrontational,
sticking her finger in his face, yelling and giving unsafe orders.
Informal efforts to resolve complainant's concerns were unsuccessful.
Subsequently, complainant filed a formal complaint based on race, color,
sex and in reprisal for prior protected activity.
On April 30, 2002, the agency issued a decision dismissing the complaint
for failure to state a claim. The agency determined that complainant
failed to provide any evidence that would suggest that he suffered a
personal harm or loss regarding a term, condition or privilege of his
employment.
The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(1) provides, in
relevant part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint 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,
.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).
On appeal, complainant argues that he was aggrieved by the alleged January
4, 2002 incident because he was subsequently issued a 7-Day Suspension.
A review of the record, however, reveals that the suspension was not
raised with the EEO Counselor or cited in the formal complaint.<1>
Therefore, we find that the instant complaint is only comprised of
the alleged verbal harassment by a supervisor on January 4, 2002.
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. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request
No. 05960227 (June 10, 1996); Henry v. United States Postal Service,
EEOC Request No. 05940695 (February 9, 1995). Further, we do not find
that the alleged incident was sufficiently severe or pervasive to state
a claim of discriminatory harassment. See Cobb v. Dept. of Treasury,
EEOC Request No. 05970077 (March 13, 1997).
Accordingly, the agency's decision to dismiss the complaint was proper
and is hereby 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
August 13, 2002
__________________
Date
1 Complainant is advised that if he wishes to pursue the suspension
claim, raised for the first time on appeal, that he initiate contact
with an EEO Counselor.