Federal court orders former Boise dog daycare facility, owner to pay $50K to two employees fired after reporting COVID-19 safety concerns

Summary:

The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment against a Boise dog daycare facility, House of Hounds LLC, and its former owner, Kayla Martin, for terminating two employees who raised workplace safety concerns about being exposed to the risk of the coronavirus during the pandemic in June 2020. The two employees were awarded $25,000 each in general and punitive damages, and the facility was ordered to provide a neutral employment recommendation, remove the incident from their records, and apologize publicly on social media. The court's action follows an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and a whistleblower complaint filed by the employees. The judgment highlights the department's commitment to enforcing workers' rights to express safety concerns freely and without fear of retaliation, and requires the facility to provide OSHA-approved management and supervisory training.