US Department of Labor finds Oklahoma mental health clinic contractor illegally fired worker who used federally protected medical leave

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US Department of Labor finds Oklahoma mental health clinic contractor illegally fired worker who used federally protected medical leave

Recovers more than $15K in back wages for wrongfully terminated worker

Employer name: CREOKS Health Services, operating as TruHealth Integrated Care

Investigation sites: 4103 South Yale Ave., Suite C

Tulsa, OK 74135

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Divisionfound CREOKS Health Services - doing business as TruHealth Integrated Care - the operator of 24 healthcare locations across eastern Oklahoma and one in Mountain View, Arkansas, illegally fired an employee for taking federally protected medical leave. The department found that the employer failed to respond to an employee's request for Family and Medical Leave Act in a timely manner, which prevented the employee from exercising their legally-protected right to FMLA leave. The employer subsequently fired the employee for job abandonment without considering their FMLA eligibility. The division determined the employer owed the former employee lost wages. TruHealth Integrated Care is contracted by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and provides various healthcare services.

Back wages recovered: $15,000

Quote: "Compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act is not a choice employers can make. An employee eligible for this protected leave must be allowed to exercise their right and use this leave without fear of losing their job," said Wage and Hour District Director Michael Speer in Oklahoma City. "The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that employees' rights are protected and will use all available remedies when violations are found."

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