The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration ordered a Texas church to pay more than $30,000 in damages for firing a whistleblower.
OSHA concluded that New Mount Zion Baptist Church of Dallas wrongfully fired a nutrition specialist in 2021 for voicing concerns about the conditions at the congregation's child care facility.
These concerns included reports of rodents and various bugs in the cafeteria and the kitchen of the child care facility, made worse by a broken air conditioning unit.
In a findings report and preliminary order issued earlier this week, OSHA said that New Mount Zion Baptist owes the whistleblower back pay in the amount of $11,369.76, as well as $20,000 for additional damages, including "for pain and suffering, including emotional, financial, and mental distress."
Additionally, the church is ordered to "make no negative references relating to the facts and circumstances of this complaint to any prospective future employers" and cannot "retaliate or discriminate against Complainant in any manner for instituting or causing to be instituted any proceeding."
OSHA Regional Administrator Eric S. Harbin said in a statement Thursday that "New Mount Zion Baptist Church's actions toward the employee are unacceptable and deeply concerning."
"The existence of rodents and insects in food preparation and serving areas poses a health hazard. The employee had the legal right to express apprehensions about the unhygienic surroundings and...
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