Kaiser Permanente employs thousands of people. This huge healthcare facility may also sometimes takes advantage of its workers by violating various federal and state laws that are designed to provide protection to workers. These violations can lead to claims for:
- Discrimination
- Harassment
- Retaliation
- Wrongful termination
Retaliation Claims for Whistleblowing Against Kaiser Permanente
Healthcare workers protect the rights and dignity of their patients. They have an obligation to report violations of patients’ rights, inadequate healthcare conditions, and other issues. Every worker can also report safety violations to both federal and state entities as well. California law imposes hefty fines and penalties against healthcare facilities that do not follow regulations or put patient safety and comfort at risk. To encourage workers to report violations, California lawmakers have chosen to create a legal right of action against employers who take adverse action against those who report violations of laws that affect patient safety, working conditions, and health requirements. Such laws include:- California Health and Safety Code 1278.5: Reporting unsafe patient care and conditions
- California Business and Professions Code 510: Advocating for appropriate health care for patients
- California Business and Professions Code 2056: Protecting employees against retaliation for those who report medically inappropriate healthcare conditions for patients
Retaliation Versus Wrongful Termination Claims
Retaliation is a form of wrongful termination in California. An employer has retaliated when you take an action that you are legally entitled to take, such as reporting poor conditions for patients, and the employer takes adverse action against you. Retaliation can take many forms. It can include situations that may involve:- Cutting your hours
- Giving you less desirable work assignments
- Terminating your employment
- Making your employment harder or unbearable so that you feel that your only option is to quit
- Contract violations
- Motives that are discriminatory
- Reasons that violate public policy
- Filing a workers’ compensation claim or another legal claim