Illinois dentist forced to pay $20K in back wages to former employee

A dentist in Peoria, Ill., has been required to pay $20,000 in back wages after unlawfully terminating a dental assistant.

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The staff member complained about the risk of COVID-19, refused a work assignment because of the risk of contracting COVID-19 and discussed safety issues in the workplace with coworkers, according to an Aug. 9 news release from the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Monzer Al-Dadah, DDS, terminated the dental assistant in March 2020 after learning a staff member filed an OSHA complaint. 

OSHA determined that Dr. Al-Dadah violated the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the department’s Officer of the Solicitor in Chicago filed a suit in April 2022. 

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