A Florida security contractor has been sued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for firing a worker for raising concerns over COVID-19 and firearm-storage safety protocols, the DOL announced last month.
The suit alleges that VRP Group Inc., based in Gainesville and doing business as Regius Investigations and Protective Services, illegally terminated the employee in August 2021, after the employee reported hazardous work conditions to supervisors via work group chat app, DOL reported Feb. 14. The employee was fired by text sent through the same work app, the DOL reports.
The worker was one of several employees supplying security services for Entergy Texas properties near Port Arthur. When the workers were relocated to temporary housing from an area hotel, the worker raised COVID-19 protocol concerns and the need to secure firearm storage, DOL reports.
“Employers who retaliate against workers who raise valid safety concerns create an unsafe work environment for all of their workers,” Eric Harbin, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regional administrator in Dallas, said in the announcement.
Harbin said in the announcement that in addition being illegal, employer retaliation can have a "chilling effect" that could prevent employees from reporting possible workplace abuses that could jeopardize employees' health and well-being.o
DOL requests in the suit that VRP Group pay the terminated employee financial compensation for lost wages and benefits; remove references to the circumstances of the employee's termination; and post notice for employees that states the company will no longer discriminate against employees for engaging in protected activities, among other provisions, according to the announcement.
“The U.S. Department of Labor’s action sends a clear and strong message to employers. Those who employ people must never forget that worker safety should be their first concern,” John Rainwater, Regional Solicitor of Labor John Rainwater in Dallas, said in the announcement.
“Punishing an employee who raises legitimate safety concerns will not be tolerated. We will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to protect workers’ rights to report an unsafe condition.”
