SOL intern Molly Connors
My name is Molly Connors. I grew up in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. George Washington University is where I obtained my undergraduate degree, majoring in Political Science and minoring in French Language and Literature. Currently, I am a third year law student at the University of Michigan. This summer, I’m working as a legal intern in the Office of the Solicitor in Chicago.
I’m interested in employment litigation. I worked in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Directorate of Standards and Guidance for two summers while I was an undergrad, so when I was applying for internships at government agencies last year, I contacted my former supervisor. She told me about the internship opportunities with the Office of the Solicitor.
This summer, my goal was to learn more about OSHA and the other agencies within the Department of Labor. After working on OSHA, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and Wage and Hour Division cases, I’m definitely achieving my goal! One of my most interesting projects has been on an Employee Retirement Investment Security Act case. I helped write a questionnaire which was sent out to plan participants whose health plan failed to pay their medical expenses. Their stories were heartbreaking, but I take solace in the fact that I’m helping the solicitors use the participants’ information to build their case. By working with the solicitors, I am helping show employers that there are consequences when employees are treated unlawfully.
Editor’s Note: The author, Molly Connors is a legal intern in the Chicago Office of the Solicitor.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Molly,
There are some great role models for you in that office. I look forward to working with you if you manage to get on board with SOL in Chicago. It’s nice to see that people are still willing to put an expensive education to use for those who really need you. Someone in OSHA once told me that they prefered working in gov’t to private sector because they could go home take a shower and truly feel clean. If you don’t know what I mean I’m sure you soon will…
Molly ,
Did you get a chance to look into the problems with OSHA whistleblower protection program? The reason i ask is after warning my employer through the chain of command of the unsafe equipment they were renting to the public in the Pennsylvania Conventition Center i was illegaly fired on 4/20/09 five weeks after contacting OSHA about what i was uncovering.I provided OSHA documentation/timelines /emails/and more.This employer was so arrogent that on 4/20/09 they sent out on rent a five ton JLG scissor lift that was one of four identical lifts that i had just locked out unsafe with a major steering problem. JLG even has a service bullitin out on this problem. I provided OSHA complete indisputible documentation the company did this and was aware of the problem.OSHA informed me they sent a second one from this group into a Sunoco refinery.15 months after i was illegaly fired a message was left on my home answer machine by a current tehnicion and stated(Gregg everything you said about(the company) was right everything.im so worried about what im finding im taking picturies to cover my a@# including the refineries) This tech had nothing to gain from this he thought my case was closed by OSHA and i did not tell him it was still open.He also stated how they were coached on what they were to say to OSHA about me after i contacted OSHA.They fired this tech 2 months later .he was recruited by the vise president of the company.Another thing this company did was pull me into the confrence room by two branch managers with no union representation and state(Because your the one who called OSHA were giving you a three day suspenion)
The union even told me they violated my winegarten rights( Fedral law) and i stll banked on OSHA to protect my job.
Molly this is just a part of what happened and i have turned to YOUTUBE to warn other whistleblowers,You can find it under (OSHA whistleblower)in four parts.
I know our rights were not protected here in this case.You think after deepwater and uppebranch mine disasters OSHA 11C would get its act together.
Unfortunaley we found out the hard way OSHA 11C was being investigated by the DOL-OIG and government accountabilty office for it poor performance.
Thanks
Gregg Stoerrle
PROUD NAVY DAD
Please do not deny my right to free speech by denying this comment and it is on topic.