A dental hygienist and dental assistant have won $15,706 in back wages to be paid by the North Texas dentists who fired them for raising concerns about COVID-19 safety measures in spring 2020 following a federal whistleblower investigation conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and litigation filed by the Department of Labor (DOL), OSHA announced February 22.
OSHA’s whistleblower investigation found that Roger and David Bohannan of Roger H. Bohannan DDS Inc. of North Richland Hills, Texas, furloughed the two employees when Texas banned specific dental procedures in March and April 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
During their furloughs, the dental hygienist and dental assistant asked what safety measures would be in place when patients and employees returned. The practice would not reinstate the hygienist after citing health and safety guidance from OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
After the dental assistant inquired about safety measures and protection, the practice rescinded a rehire offer. Both employees were terminated by the practice.
Source: Texas Dental Workers Win Back Wages Over COVID-19 Concerns / EHS Daily Advisor