EEOC Appeal 2020000607

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
Kory V.,1
Complainant,
v.
Hugh Halpern,
Director,
United States Government Printing Office,
Agency.
Appeal No. 2020000607
Agency No. GPO-19-21
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC
or Commission) from the Agency's decision dated August 9, 2019, dismissing 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.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked as a Forklift Operator at
the Agency’s facility in Washington, D.C.
On June 21, 2019, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging that the Agency subjected him
to discrimination on the basis of sex (male) when, on May 17, 2019, he was ordered to participate
in the GPO Annual Forklift Challenge.
The Agency dismissed the complaint, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1), 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
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). When the complainant does not allege he or she is aggrieved within the meaning
of the regulations, the agency shall dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim pursuant to
29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(1).
Here, we concur with the Agency that Complainant failed to allege sufficient facts, which if proven
true and considered together, would establish that he suffered harm or loss with respect to a term,
condition, or privilege of employment for which there is a remedy. To the extent Complainant
alleges that he had to participate in the Annual Forklift Challenge, a single day event, he has not
asserted how he was harmed. We note the Agency specifically asked Complainant how he was
harmed. He acknowledged the challenge was voluntary, but stated he felt pressured to agree to
participate. However, he did not allege what he believed the consequence would be if he did not
agree to participate. 	He asserts only men were asked to participate in the challenge but concedes
that only men had the forklift operator’s license required to participate in the challenge. The
complaint, as written, without more, simply does not state a viable claim of discrimination or
unlawful retaliation.
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
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).

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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
September 15, 2020
Date