Feds order T-Mobile to pay whistleblower $345,000
SEATTLE (AP) - The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered cell phone company T-Mobile USA to pay a fired whistleblower more than $345,000.
The department announced Thursday the order resulted from an investigation by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration into alleged violations of federal whistleblower protection laws.
The fired employee had raised concerns about "the possibility of millions of dollars in fraudulent roaming charges being levied on hundreds of international corporate customers."
The department says the employee was fired in 2009.
T-Mobile, a subsidiary of the Germany-based Deutsche Telekom AG, was also ordered to reinstate the employee. The order includes $244,479 in back wages and interest, $65,000 in compensatory damages and $36,493 in attorney's fees.
A phone and email message to T-Mobile was not immediately returned.
The department announced Thursday the order resulted from an investigation by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration into alleged violations of federal whistleblower protection laws.
The fired employee had raised concerns about "the possibility of millions of dollars in fraudulent roaming charges being levied on hundreds of international corporate customers."
The department says the employee was fired in 2009.
T-Mobile, a subsidiary of the Germany-based Deutsche Telekom AG, was also ordered to reinstate the employee. The order includes $244,479 in back wages and interest, $65,000 in compensatory damages and $36,493 in attorney's fees.
A phone and email message to T-Mobile was not immediately returned.
Not sure I'd want my job back.Â
Not a surprise if you've ever worked there.Â
Probably shoulda texted them for a return comment ;>
This is great! I like to see individuals being able to stand up against corporations, even when it's the one they work for. Good news.
Phone messages to T-mobile weren't immediately returned? The call probably didn't go through in the first place, if T-mobile uses their own products!
@Sarah E I've heard T-Mobile's signal is weaker than AT&T or Verizon and Sprint; maybe they didnt have enough bars so the voice mail hasnt been received yet.