DECISION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
On May 9, 2003, the Office of Compliance entered into its records the attached decision of Hearing Officer Warren R. King in this proceeding. The Hearing Officer concluded that the Respondent did not (1) unlawfully deny the Complainant a reasonable accommodation for his religious beliefs or practices, (2) unlawfully retaliate against Complainant, nor (3) did Respondent create an unlawful hostile work environment for the Complainant. The Complainant timely filed a petition for review of that decision, and a supporting brief. The Respondent timely filed its opposition brief to the petition for review.
Upon due consideration of the Hearing Officer’s Decision, the record and the parties’ filings, the Board affirms the Hearing Officer’s dismissal of the complaint. The Board is satisfied that the Hearing Officer’s findings are supported by substantial record evidence, in that: (1)Complainant’s religious accommodation claim fails because the accommodation would have posed an undue hardship on Respondent, (2)Complainant’s retaliation claim fails because he did not meet his burden of establishing a connection between the protected activity and the actions complained of.1 , and (3) Complainant failed to show that the conduct was sufficiently severe or pervasive to establish the elements of a hostile environment claim. Harris v. Forklift Systems, 510 U.S. 17 (1993).
ORDER
Pursuant to Section 406(e) of the Congressional Accountability Act and Section 8.01(d) of the Office’s Procedural Rules, the Board affirms the Hearing Officer’s merits determination of no discrimination or retaliation in this matter.
It is so ordered.
Issued, Washington, D.C.:October 24 , 2003
