Hair Salon to Pay $40K Settlement for Firing Stylist

Thursday, February 21, 2019 | 0

A Pennsylvania hair salon agreed to pay $40,000 to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a stylist alleged she was fired because she expressed concerns about workplace safety.

Blown Away Dry Bar and Salon, based in Kennett Square, retaliated against the employee after her husband reported workplace safety and health hazards to OSHA, the agency said.

“Employees have the right to report workplace safety or health hazards without fear of retaliation from their employer,” said Philadelphia Regional Administrator Richard Mendelson. “This settlement goes a long way in making this employee whole after she was fired for engaging in an activity that is protected by law.”

The judgment prohibits the salon from offering any information about the stylist’s work history beyond the dates of employment, the position she held, and the last salary or hourly wage while employed by the defendants. It also requires the defendants to prominently display the “Job Safety and Health, It’s the Law” poster for 60 days, OSHA said.