The U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service for allegedly terminating a worker in Caldwell, Texas who reported a work-related injury after falling while delivering mail.
Federal investigators found that USPS fired the employee on Feb. 27, 2024, just 10 days after the injury report was filed, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, seeks to hold the Postal Service accountable for what the Labor Department describes as illegal retaliation. The department is requesting back wages and damages for the terminated employee.
The case falls under federal whistleblower provisions that protect workers who report workplace safety concerns or injuries.
OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces provisions across 25 different statutes designed to shield employees from retaliation when they report violations of workplace safety regulations and other laws.
The Labor Department did not release the name of the employee involved in the complaint, which is standard practice in whistleblower cases.
