Dental assistant fired for raising COVID concerns to get back pay

An Illinois dental practice has been ordered to pay $20,000 in back wages to a dental assistant who was fired in retaliation for raising COVID-19-related workplace safety concerns with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Department of Labor said a federal judge Wednesday ordered Peoria-based Dr. Monzer K. Al-Dadah LLC to pay former dental assistant Ketra Mathews back pay, provide a neutral employment recommendation, and remove any references in employment records related to the firing.

OSHA said investigators determined the dentist attempted to identify the employee who made a COVID-19-related safety complaint in March 2020 and subsequently fired Ms. Mathews, who was employed at the practice for more than 20 years.

Ms. Mathews had complained about the risk of COVID-19 infection, refused a work assignment she thought was risky for contracting the virus, and discussed workplace safety issues with coworkers, according to the DOL.

OSHA sued the dental practice after determining its actions violated whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.