KDHE Pays $35,000 to Settle DOJ Servicemember Employment Rights Suit
Updated
Updated · WIBW · Sep 1
KDHE Pays $35,000 to Settle DOJ Servicemember Employment Rights Suit
3 articles · Updated · WIBW · Sep 1
Summary
$35,000 will go to Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Stacy Gonzales under a settlement resolving the Justice Department's lawsuit against the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The DOJ said KDHE violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act by ending grant funding for Gonzales's civilian disease intervention job because of an upcoming military deployment.
KDHE also agreed to update its USERRA policies and procedures and train all employees — including grant-funded staff — on the revised rules.
The case stems from Gonzales's employment with the Finney County Department of Health under KDHE from 2001 to 2010 and underscores federal enforcement of job protections for National Guard and reserve members.