Southwest Airlines is facing $1.3 million in fines for allegedly violating Colorado’s labor laws.
In a citation, the state’s department of labor and employment said it conducted a lengthy investigation, and found dozens of violations, mostly related to Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, which mandates protections for workers related to COVID-19.
“[Southwest Airlines] has violated nearly every HWA requirement and protection,” the labor department said in the citation dated March 17.
Among other things, state labor officials say Southwest refused to provide COVID-19-related leave for workers either diagnosed with the illness or showing symptoms, as well as for workers that needed to take a test or care for family members, according to the citation. On top of that, the airline failed to notify employees of their right to take paid sick leave, which meant thousands of workers were unaware that they could stay home rather than risk contagion in airplanes and airports, the citation said.
Last week, Southwest fought back by filing a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Denver. In the filing, Southwest alleges the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act “imposes a pervasive and comprehensive sick leave scheme on employers in Colorado.” Southwest argues it already provides “generous” paid leave benefits through its union contracts, and seeks relief from enforcement of the act’s provisions. In a separate lawsuit filed in Denver County court, Southwest is seeking a...
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