Fired Whistleblowers to Receive $15,000 in Back Wages

Fired Whistleblowers to Receive $15,000 in Back Wages

A Texas dental practice has been ordered to pay a combined $15,706 in back pay to two former employees. The workers claimed they were fired when they raised concerns about workplace COVID-19 safety measures.

Case background

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that Roger H. Bohannon DDS Inc., located in North Richland Hills, must reimburse the employees for their lost back pay.

According to OSHA, dentists Roger and David Bohannon discriminated against the dental hygienist and dental assistant when the employees expressed concerns about COVID-19 mitigation procedures during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bohannons fired both employees, which is a violation of their rights.

Initially, both workers were furloughed in March and April 2020. The workers understood that eventually they would be reinstated. However, when they raised COVID-19 health and safety concerns, both were terminated from their employment.

The U.S. Department of Labor filed a suit against the defendants in federal court, and the Northern District of Texas entered their consent judgement in early 2023. In addition to over $15,000 in combined back pay, the dentists are required to provide neutral work references for wrongfully fired employees. They are also ordered to refrain from future OSHA violations.

If you’ve been discriminated against for raising workplace safety concerns, you may be eligible to file a whistleblower claim. Employees who were wrongfully terminated may be able to recover back pay and related damages.

In order to find out whether you have an eligible whistleblower claim, call a knowledgeable whistleblower attorney at Kardell Law Group today. We will help you understand your options and decide the best course of action.