I have a legal question to ask

[Javaman]

A friend works with the elderly doing speech therapy. She had been wearing full PPE. But now her employer is telling her not to wear it and to lie to inspectors about wearing it. She has an email documenting the lie. What would be her best recourse?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. She should contact a lawyer who handles employment law.

[Javaman]

3. That's what I thought

Confirms what I was thinking. Thanks!🙂

[Throckmorton]

11. Spot on my dear Ocelot.

As always. If you need legal advice, call an attorney that specializes that area.

[Boxerfan]

2. If she can document it as you say-I'd prepare for the worst

Politely decline as she is trying to protect her clients. If she senses she will be fired have the e-mail ready to send to a news outlet.
I'd suggest an actual lawyer for that.

[Ms. Toad]

4. Depending on the rules in the state -

Report it to the local health department.

It sounds from your note like PPE is required (why else lie to the inspectors). If so, as a general rule, the local health inspectors would be the ones to enforce the rule.

[marlakay]

5. I would secretly turn in employer

If i thought i could get away with it.

[scarletwoman]

6. Is there a Human Resources department? She should probably report it to them first, and document it.

If that doesn't help, her state probably has some sort of Labor department/worker ombudsman office where she could report it.

[alwaysinasnit]

7. A bit of caution. HR depts are not necessarily there to protect the employee.

https://www.marketplace.org/2017/10/30/human-resources-protect-employee-employer/

[scarletwoman]

9. I know, but it's still a useful step to provide documentation for an unemployment hearing. (nt)

[alwaysinasnit]

10. Agreed, although I think it would be a good precaution to seek legal consultation before

alerting HR.

[scarletwoman]

13. No argument there, as long as it's available/affordable.

[alwaysinasnit]

15. Too true.

[Tetrachloride]

8. Find a valid reason to say that one was possibly exposed to Corona V and take some time off.

Meanwhile , go find the lawyer.

[Arazi]

12. The seniors I know won't allow the visiting RNs/physical therapists etc inside without full PPE

The backlash from their clients should cause them to re-think this

[ret5hd]

14. I don't know why everyone is dancing around this...

Contact the local media immediately...post the email on Twitter, FB, etc completely unredacted. Dare them, double dog dare them to fire you.

[Progressive Law]

16. You should indicate the state where this occurred.