PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria dentist is getting fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for firing someone who ended up being a federal whistleblower.
OSHA says a federal judge in Peoria issued a judgment requiring Dr. Monzer Al-Dadah to pay $20,000 in back wages to the employee in question.
The whistleblower, whose name is not being released, “complained about the risk of coronavirus infection, refused a work assignment they believed to be a risk for contracting coronavirus, and discussed workplace safety issues with co-workers,” according to a news release.
The employee had been with the dentist for 20 years, but filed the complaint with OSHA alleging retaliation.
“Employees must be able to exercise their legal rights regarding workplace safety freely and without fear of retaliation by their employer,” said OSHA Assistant Regional Administrator Denise Keller, in a news release. “The outcome in this case reflects the Department of Labor’s commitment to protect workers’ rights.”
The court order also orders changes be made to employment records.
The dentist’s office is located near Sterling and Forest Hill.
