Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims:
What Employers Need to Know
May 6, 2020
Presenters
Steven J. Pearlman
- Lloyd B. Chinn
- Harris M. Mufson
- Pinchos (Pinny) Goldberg
- Partner (Chicago)
- Partner (New York)
- Partner (New York)
- Associate (New York)
- T: +1.312.962.3545
- T:+1.212.969.3341
- T: +1.212.969.3794
- T: +1.212.969.3074
2
Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
May 6, 2020
COVID-19 Wrongful Death Suit: Evans v. Walmart
• First known COVID-19 wrongful death suit - filed in Illinois • Decedent contracted COVID-19 while working at a Walmart store
‒ Another employee who worked at the store died of COVID-19 shortly after the decedent
• Complaint alleges:
‒ Walmart failed to implement safety measures recommended by CDC/OSHA ‒ Management did not clean and sterilize the store, provide employees with PPE, or implement social distancing
‒ Walmart did not bar employees with symptoms of COVID-19 ‒ Walmart did not warn employees that other workers had COVID-19
3
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Whistleblower/Retaliation Claims on the Rise
• Reports of employees alleging retaliation for reporting lack of safety measures and personal protective equipment (“PPE”)
‒ Health care workers ‒ Warehouse employees
• 1,000+ OSHA complaints regarding lack of COVID-19 protections • OSHA Press Release “reminding employers that it is illegal to retaliate against workers because they report unsafe and unhealthful working conditions during the coronavirus”
4
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Amazon Under Scrutiny for Firing Warehouse Employee
• Workers at 50+ Amazon warehouses have contracted COVID-19 • Amazon allegedly fired an employee who worked at its Staten Island warehouse for protesting company’s response to COVID-19
‒ Company put employee in quarantine after he was in contact with another worker who contracted COVID-19
‒ Employee then led protest calling for Amazon to close the warehouse temporarily and provide additional protections
‒ Amazon fired employee after the protest, citing his failure to quarantine
5
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Amazon Under Scrutiny for Firing Warehouse Employee (cont’d)
• New York Attorney General April 22 letter to Amazon:
‒ Concerned that safety measures in Amazon warehouse were inadequate and might have violated OSHA regulations
‒ Investigating whether employee was discharged “to silence his complaints and send a threatening message to other employees” – thereby potentially violating whistleblower laws.
‒ Urged Amazon to reinstate employee
6
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
NYAG Investigates to Ensure Shutdown of Non-Essential Businesses
• NY Attorney General’s Office has contacted thousands of employers related to shutdown of non-essential businesses
• Focus on employer compliance with Executive Order 202.8 –
‒ requires 100% reduction of in-person workforce for non-essential businesses and that essential businesses maximize telecommuting/remote work
‒ Fines – up to $2,000 for first violation, $5,000 for subsequent
• NYAG threatening injunctive relief actions in addition to fines • Also referencing OHSA and New York Labor Law § 200(1), which codifies employers’ duty “to protect the health and safety of employees”
7
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Topics To Cover
• Workplace Safety Issues • Federal Anti-Retaliation Provisions • State Whistleblower Laws • New Legislation on the Horizon
8
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Workplace Safety
9
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Relevant OSH Act Provisions and Regulations
• General Duty Clause: employers must furnish “a place of employment . . . free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”
• States can adopt OSHA-approved plans • Instead of issuing virus-specific regulations, OSHA has relied upon existing rules, including:
‒ 29 C.F.R. § 1910, Subpart I: requires personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Recording and Reporting Requirements
10
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
OSHA Investigation Process
• OSHA will not reveal the name of the complainant • OSHA will only conduct an on-site inspection where certain criteria is met
• Off-site investigations are generally conducted via phone/fax
‒ OSHA calls the employer, describes the alleged hazards, and follows up with a fax or letter
‒ Employer must respond within five days, identifying in writing any problems found and noting corrective actions taken or planned
‒ If response is adequate, OSHA will generally not conduct on-site inspection ‒ OSHA will send letter to employee who filed the complaint, informing the employee of findings and any citations and proposed penalties
11
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
OSHA Investigations During COVID-19
• Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019
‒ Complaints from non-healthcare and non-emergency response establishments to be processed via phone/fax
‒ COVID-related fatalities and imminent danger exposures are prioritized for inspection “with particular attention given to healthcare organizations and first responders”
‒ If an on-site inspection is warranted, compliance officers are directed to (among other things) examine whether employer has a written pandemic plan as recommended by the CDC.
12
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
OSHA’s COVID-19 Guidance
• OSHA has released approximately 15 directives and guides related to
COVID-19, including:
‒ “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19” ‒ Interim guidance for specific worker groups and their employers
‒ Safety tips for restaurant, and food and beverage businesses
13
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
OSHA Overwhelmed
• According to the National Employment Law Project, OSHA is operating
with the lowest number of inspectors in more than 40 years
‒ 1,469 inspectors in 1980 ‒ Currently, 862 ‒ At current staffing level, it would take the agency 165 years to inspect each workplace under its jurisdiction
• Since the outset of the pandemic, OSHA has received close to 3,000
coronavirus-related related complaints
‒ As of April 30, the agency has closed 1,831 of these complaints
14
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Calls for OSHA to Enact Emergency Safety Regulations
• OSH Act gives DOL authority to issue an emergency temporary standard if employees are exposed to grave dangers from new hazards
• Criticism has emerged regarding OSHA’s refusal to issue emergency standards:
‒ AFL-CIO ‒ Senators Murray, Baldwin and Heinrich ‒ David Michaels
15
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Secretary Scalia and OSHA Stand By Existing Regulations
• Secretary Scalia responded to the AFL-CIO’s letter, stating:
‒ “OSHA’s website contains extensive guidance on the virus for the benefit of workers and employer and, in fact, the cop is on the beat”
‒ A temporary emergency standard is unnecessary because “employers are implementing measures to protect workers” and “employer who fail to take steps are likely violating existing OSHA obligations”
‒ OSHA considers industry-specific guidance to be “more valuable” than a temporary emergency standard
16
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Legislation to Compel Creation of Emergency Safety Standard
• Democratic lawmakers have introduced a number of bills that would require OSHA to issue a temporary emergency standard, including:
‒ COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act ‒ COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act
17
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Federal Anti-Retaliation Protections
18
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Section 11(c) of the OSH Act
• Section 11(c): “[N]o person shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against any employee because the employee has . . . [f]iled any complaint under or related to the [OSH Act].”
• Protects employees who make reasonable, good faith complaints • Relief may include reinstatement, back pay with interest, compensatory damages, and punitive damages
• Secretary of Labor has filed at least 10 lawsuits under Section 11(c) during the
Trump era
19
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020
Section 11(c) of the OSH Act (cont’d)
• Johnson v. Interstate Mgmt. Co., LLC, 849 F.3d 1093 (D.C. Cir. 2017)
‒ Held: Section 11(c) does not provide for a private cause of action ‒ Employees may submit complaint to Secretary of Labor ‒ Secretary of Labor may sue in federal court on behalf of employee
20
- Coronavirus-Related Whistleblower Claims
- May 6, 2020