Kaiser Permanente and its related entities and subsidiaries employ over 20,000 people. This huge employer definitely adds value to the community, but it also, unfortunately, sometimes takes advantage of or mistreats its employees. However, no employer is too big to avoid the laws in Harbor City, and Kaiser Permanente is no exception.
Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers have been helping employees assert their rights against Kaiser Permanente and its related entities for more than 20 years. These other affiliates include:
- Kaiser Foundation Hospitals
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.
- Southern California Permanente Medical Group
- The Permanente Medical Group
In Harbor City, you will find:
- Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center
- Kaiser Permanente Parkview Medical Office
- Kaiser Permanente Normandie South Medical Office
California Law Protects Workers
There are various reasons you may take legal action against Kaiser Permanente. This overview will address the most common.
Often, those who file claims or lawsuits against Kaiser Permanente do so because they have been the victims of retaliation after reporting unsafe working conditions.
Healthcare workers in California should not fear being disciplined or losing their jobs because they feel they have a duty to themselves, their coworkers, and patients to alert the relevant authorities and other such parties when hazardous conditions put the safety of employees and/or patients at risk. Multiple California laws and regulations specifically serve to prevent employers from punishing healthcare employees who report such conditions. They include the following:
- California Health & Safety Code Section 1278.5: According to this law, “it is the public policy of the State of California to encourage patients, nurses, members of the medical staff, and other health care workers to notify government entities of suspected unsafe patient care and conditions.” The law also states that health facilities can’t retaliate or discriminate against whistleblowers.
- California Business & Professions Code Section 510: This law establishes that it is policy within California that health care workers must be encouraged to serve as advocates for their patients, ensuring they receive proper care. One way a healthcare worker can advocate for their patients is to report unsafe conditions when they become aware of them.
- California Business & Professions Code Section 2056: Similar to the above law, under this statute, it is a violation of California public policy to “penalize” or “terminate an employment or other contractual relationship” with a doctor or surgeon who has advocated for the proper treatment of a patient based on “the applicable legal standard of care.” For example, if a doctor had to protect a patient by calling attention to unsafe conditions or practices, their employer cannot legally fire them or punish them in any other manner for doing so.
The fact that these laws have been established doesn’t mean that all employers abide by them. Kaiser Permanente, in particular, has retaliated against whistleblowers.
Potential Employee Claims Against Kaiser Permanente
Employees have rights under both federal and state law that they can assert against their employer when they feel like they are being mistreated. These laws are particularly important to healthcare workers who are reporting mistreatment and poor conditions that put patient health at risk. Employees in the following roles have special protection under these circumstances:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Medical staff
- CNAs
- Surgeons
California places great value on patient health, so the legislature has enacted specific anti-retaliation laws in these circumstances. That means that Kaiser Permanente cannot fire you or take other adverse employment action, like giving you poor work assignments, cutting your hours, or denying you a raise because you reported patient mistreatment.
Employees can also assert claims related to:
Recovering Compensation From Kaiser Permanente
It’s important to understand that an attorney is unable to make any promises regarding how much compensation you may eventually recover if you take legal action against Kaiser Permanente. That said, depending on the circumstances, you may be eligible to receive compensation for the following:
- Lost wages
- Lost benefits
- Legal fees
- Court costs
- Pain and suffering
If you’ve lost your job, it’s possible you may even be reinstated should you wish to be. Punitive damages might also be awarded if it’s determined that Kaiser Permanente’s violation of California’s laws was flagrant enough that the company must be punished financially. When courts award punitive damages, it can minimize the chances of a company committing future violations.
If you feel that you have been mistreated at work, you should talk to Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers. Our Harbor City Kaiser wrongful termination attorneys can help you determine whether you have a claim and what your next steps should be.
How A Harbor City Kaiser Permanente Wrongful Termination Attorney Can Help You
You may worry that getting a lawyer involved will create unnecessary conflict or stress. However, you have every right to ensure that you are treated fairly under the law. In some cases, you need a lawyer to help protect you against large employers like Kaiser Permanente. As your employment attorney, Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers can help you by:
- Gathering documentary evidence that you might not otherwise know how to collect
- Speaking with both negative and positive witnesses
- Getting information about similar occurrences that may have happened in the past
You do not have to go through this alone. Get an experienced employment attorney on your side to help. Call Rager & Yoon – Employment Lawyers at 310-527-6994 for a free consultation. There is no obligation to retain us after this meeting, and you can learn more about your rights as an employee—you have nothing to lose. Schedule your appointment today.