SEATTLE (FNN) – The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a landmark consent judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma, permanently preventing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from retaliating against employees at up to 59 locations in Washington state. This judgment follows an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which found the USPS violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s anti-retaliation provisions.

Key Points:

• Investigation Findings: OSHA concluded that the USPS unlawfully fired three probationary workers in East Vancouver, Seattle, and Tacoma after they reported workplace injuries.
• Legal Action: The Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor filed suit against the USPS, alleging violations of anti-retaliation provisions.
• Injunction Details: The U.S. District Court issued the broadest permanent anti-retaliation injunction to date, recognizing a pattern of unlawful firings by the USPS.
• Compensation: The USPS must pay $183,732 in lost wages, interest, and damages to the three unlawfully fired employees.
• Protective Measures: The court’s order mandates several changes to USPS processes, including:
  • Providing equal opportunity for probationary employees who report injuries to pass probation.
  • Supplying information needed to file worker’s compensation claims during orientation.
  • Having HR or labor relations review all proposed terminations of probationary employees who reported injuries.
  • Offering specific notice and training related to reporting work-related injuries without fear of retaliation.

Quotes:

• Marc Pilotin, Regional Solicitor of Labor: “The U.S. District Court has recognized the U.S. Postal Service’s pattern of ignoring its own policies and unlawfully firing probationary workers who report injuries. This retaliatory conduct must stop at once.”
• Pilotin on Broader Implications: “This landmark injunction sends a clear signal to employers that retaliation — in any form — against employees who report workplace injuries will not be tolerated. The U.S. Department of Labor will continue to enforce federal protections of workers’ rights rigorously and combat retaliation.”

This consent judgment is a significant victory in OSHA’s efforts to protect workers’ rights to a safe workplace and to report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation.

For more information, visit OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Programs.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – ICON Park in Orlando, Florida, has been honored with the prestigious “Harris Rosen Philanthropic Award” by the I-Drive Chamber of Commerce. This accolade recognizes ICON Park’s outstanding dedication to philanthropy, enhancing both the local community and beyond. Previous recipients of this esteemed award include the Orange County Convention Center and Universal Orlando Resort.

At the recent Chamber meeting and award ceremony, attended by numerous tourism leaders, ICON Park President and CEO Chris Jaskiewicz accepted the award on behalf of the organization. Maria Triscari, president of the I-Drive Chamber, emphasized ICON Park’s significant impact, describing it as a vital pillar within the greater Orlando community.

Five years ago, under Jaskiewicz’s leadership, ICON Park was transformed into a communal hub with free admission, fostering community spirit and celebrating Orlando’s vibrancy. Reflecting on his inspiration for ICON Park’s philanthropic initiatives, Jaskiewicz highlighted his deep-rooted ties to Orlando and his belief in tourism’s transformative power.

ICON Park’s commitment to community support is exemplified through various initiatives, including lighting The Wheel in custom colors to raise awareness for causes, hosting safety training exercises for fire rescue teams, and providing observation opportunities for conservation groups. The park also offers its venue for charity events and fundraisers at reduced or no cost, and has established the “ICON Park Hospitality Scholarship” at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality.

In the past year alone, ICON Park has donated over a quarter of a million dollars to local organizations and facilitated more than 80 on-site events. Looking ahead, the park continues to expand its presence with Merlin Entertainments acquiring the Orlando Eye and preparing for the return of Blue Man Group to Orlando in a new theater development.

ICON Park’s receipt of the “Harris Rosen Philanthropic Award” underscores its ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in the Orlando community and beyond, embodying the spirit of corporate responsibility and community engagement.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Everybody has heard of GoDaddy, but how many people know the real-life story of the highly successful, philanthropic, and colorful man behind the company? For the first time, GoDaddy and PXG founder Bob Parsons, in a highly confessional account, shares the story of his life, from his humble upbringing to his meteoric rise as one of early tech’s pioneers.

Fire in the Hole! The Untold Story of My Traumatic Life and Explosive Success (Forefront Books, May 7, 2024) by Bob Parsons is an unflinching, yet inspirational, account of his path to success, from a hardscrabble childhood to his combat service as a U.S. Marine during the Vietnam War — and beyond.

A descendant of coal miners, Parsons grew up in the 1950s in a blue-collar, working-class neighborhood in East Baltimore. Money was tight, given his parents shared a mutual fondness for gambling and were not particularly good at it. In his book, Parsons talks about the financial struggles his family faced, as well as the emotional neglect he experienced as a boy.

He writes: “We were just getting by when Pop’s business failed … my dad racked up so much debt from gambling and credit cards that everything came tumbling down. In the end, he practically gave the business away. And, when he did, we went from not having much to having nothing. I mean absolutely nothing.”

An admittedly so-so student, he recalls the struggles he faced in learning, as well as the corporal punishment dished out by Catholic school nuns. But his early experiences reveal an innate resiliency that got him through a harrowing tour of duty in Vietnam, his early years at his first company, Parsons Technology, as well as his bold business decisions that would eventually make him one of the wealthiest people in the world. With a net worth of $3.6 billion, Parsons is No. 314 on the Forbes 400 2023 list of the richest people in America.

He’s an everyman who has made it. He’s authentic. And his reflections on life, business, and giving back are heartbreaking, heartwarming, humorous, and inspiring.

In the book, Parsons:

• Shares how he survived his grueling tour of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Marines infantry.

• Reveals the struggles he has faced throughout his lifetime because of PTSD, as well as the efforts he has made to treat it, including novel therapeutic uses of psychedelics.

• Offers the lessons he has learned during his career, from the launch of his first business, Parsons Technology, to the creation of his present-day business empire, which includes YAM Worldwide and Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG).

Since 2012, Parsons and his wife, Renee, have donated nearly $300 million to more than 96 charities and organizations worldwide. Having suffered from PTSD, he works to find new and effective treatments for himself and others. He strongly believes in paying it forward. And he is always moving forward, creating new companies, and re-creating himself. Fire in the Hole! encourages readers to dream big and imagine all that’s possible — even if the cards seem stacked against them.