EEOC Appeal 2020000583

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Libby K., 1
Complainant,
v.
Robert Wilkie,
Secretary,
Department of Veterans Affairs,
Agency.
Appeal No. 2020000583
Agency No. 200J-0578-2019105054
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC
or Commission) from the Agency's decision (Dismissal) dated September 30, 2019, dismissing her
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.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Program Support
Assistant, GS-06 at the Agency’s Medical Center facility in Hines, Illinois.
On September 6, 2019, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected
her to unlawful retaliation for prior protected EEO activity under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 when, from June 17 through July 24, 2019, Complainant was badgered and bullied by her
supervisor.
The Agency dismissed the claim for failure to state a claim. The instant appeal followed.
1 This case has been randomly assigned a pseudonym which will replace Complainant’s name
when the decision is published to non-parties and the Commission’s website.

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ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
Under the regulations set forth at 29 C.F.R. Part 1614, an agency shall accept a complaint from an
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.
Dep’t of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994). If complainant cannot
establish that s/he is aggrieved, the agency shall dismiss a complaint for failure to state a claim.
29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1).
Here, in her formal complaint, Complainant did not elaborate regarding the nature of the alleged
badgering 	and 	bullying 	she 	endured 	from 	her 	supervisor. 	In 	subsequent 	correspondence
Complainant describes disputes and arguments with her supervisor over work assignments that
Complainant found to be “time consuming and tedious.” The Commission finds that the complaint
fails to state a claim under the EEOC regulations because complainant failed to allege that she was
subjected to unwelcome verbal or physical conduct involving her protected status that had the
purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with her work performance and/or creating an
intimidating, 	hostile, 	or 	offensive 	work 	environment. 	See 	McCleod 	v. 	Social 	Security
Administration, EEOC Appeal No. 01963810 (August 5, 1999) (citing Henson v. City of Dundee,
682 F.2d 897 (11th Cir. 1982). 	Nor has she shown she suffered harm or loss with respect to a
term, condition, or privilege of employment for which there is a remedy. See Diaz v. Department
of the Air Force, EEOC Request No. 05931049 (April 21, 1994). Finally, we find that the actions
complained of are not reasonably likely to deter Complainant or others from engaging in protected
activity.” EEOC Compliance Manual, Section 8 (Retaliation) at 8-13, 8-14 (May 20, 1998).
Accordingly, the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's complaint is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0617)
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. A party shall have
twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of another party’s timely request for reconsideration in

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which to submit a brief or statement in opposition. See 29 C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment
Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), at Chap. 9 § VII.B
(Aug. 5, 2015). All requests and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal
Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 	Complainant’s request may be
submitted via regular mail to P.O. Box 77960, Washington, DC 20013, or by certified mail to 131
M Street, NE, Washington, DC 20507. 	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 agency’s request must be submitted
in digital format via the EEOC’s Federal Sector EEO Portal (FedSEP). 	See 29 C.F.R. §
1614.403(g). 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 (S0610)
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 (Z0815)
If you want to file a civil action but cannot pay the fees, costs, or security to do so, you may request
permission from the court to proceed with the civil action without paying these fees or costs.
Similarly, if you cannot afford an attorney to represent you in the civil action, you may request the
court to appoint an attorney for you. You must submit the requests for waiver of court costs or
appointment of an attorney directly to the court, not the Commission. The court has the sole
discretion to grant or deny these types of requests.

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Such requests do not alter the time limits for filing a civil action (please read the paragraph titled
Complainant’s Right to File a Civil Action for the specific time limits).
FOR THE COMMISSION:
___________________________ 	Carlton M. Hadden’s signature
Carlton M. Hadden, Director
Office of Federal Operations
August 31, 2020
Date