A dentist in Peoria, Ill., has been required to pay $20,000 in back wages after unlawfully terminating a dental assistant.
The staff member complained about the risk of COVID-19, refused a work assignment because of the risk of contracting COVID-19 and discussed safety issues in the workplace with coworkers, according to an Aug. 9 news release from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Monzer Al-Dadah, DDS, terminated the dental assistant in March 2020 after learning a staff member filed an OSHA complaint.
OSHA determined that Dr. Al-Dadah violated the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the department's Officer of the Solicitor in Chicago filed a suit in April 2022.