A Texas luxury car dealer that allegedly retaliated against an employee who raised COVID-19 concerns is being sued by OSHA.
The employee was fired after warning co-workers about potential COVID-19 hazards in the workplace.
After learning that a co-worker at Austin-based Hi Tech Motorcars tested positive for the coronavirus, the employee requested management notify other employees immediately regarding their risk of exposure, according to a DOL news release.
When management didn’t take any action, the employee sent a company-wide email about the potential hazard.
Less than an hour later, the employee was fired.
OSHA found the employee had exercised their whistleblower rights and the termination was illegal, so it filed a lawsuit against the company seeking reinstatement, lost wages and benefits resulting from the termination, reimbursement for costs and expenses, compensatory damages, and exemplary or punitive damages.
