Complying with care and safety standards is paramount in the healthcare industry. In healthcare facilities, medical providers are often the first to notice care deficiencies, safety hazards, illegal conduct, and ethical violations that could harm patients, coworkers, and the public. Reporting such concerns is not only an ethical obligation but, for many, it is also a legal duty. However, doing so is not always easy, as it can trigger various … [Read more...]
Employees Are Protected for Reporting Patient-Safety Issues
Healthcare professionals who complain about patient-safety and substandard healthcare are protected against retaliation from their employers. Generally speaking, the Minnesota Whistleblower Act (Minn. Stat. § 181.932) (“MWA”) protects employees who, in good faith, report a violation, suspected violation, or planned violation of law. To be protected, the report must be made to the employee’s employer, a government body, or law enforcement … [Read more...]
Whistleblower Protection for Minnesota Healthcare Workers
Like other Minnesota employees, healthcare workers are protected from retaliation for reporting violations of law to their employer or to governmental authorities, participating in a government investigation or hearing, or refusing an employer’s directive to perform an illegal act. That said, these anti-retaliation provisions have special applications to healthcare workers, with laws like the Minnesota Whistleblower Act providing healthcare … [Read more...]
COVID-19 and Employment Law- What’s Changed and What Hasn’t
More than half a year has passed since COVID 19 came to America and changed so much about our lives, and courts already have seen hundreds if not thousands of cases related to the disease. To date, however, while legislation has addressed things like paycheck protection, enhanced unemployment benefits, and COVID-related time off, courts have issued only a few rulings on some of the most important employment law issues raised by the disease. … [Read more...]
Top 5 Employment Law Issues Facing Physicians During the Pandemic
COVID-19 has created new legal issues for physicians in Minnesota, while some other typical issues they face have continued or been exacerbated. Below, I address five of the most common legal issues for physicians today. Salary reductions due to COVID-19 Since the pandemic began, numerous physicians in Minnesota have been subjected to pay and hour reductions. While these cuts ostensibly stem from the economic impact of the pandemic, employers’ … [Read more...]
