City reached settlement with Southwest to rehire and pay LaGuardia Airport employee who was fired for using sick leave

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Southwest Airlines agreed to reinstate a LaGuardia Airport ground crew worker after he lodged a formal complaint that the air carrier fired him in violation of New York City’s paid sick-time law.

The settlement, reached with the city Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), required Southwest to rehire the worker who was unlawfully fired for using sick leave and pay him $15,903.60 in back pay and restitution.

In May, DCWP received a complaint from a ramp agent at LaGuardia Airport who had been fired by Southwest for accruing too many disciplinary points after using sick leave. Under the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, workers are entitled to use their accrued leave and it is illegal to retaliate against a worker for using that leave.