Woman Claims Retaliation Over Health San Francisco Dispute

     There is an interesting story in the San Francisco Chronicle today discussing a potential lawsuit under the Healthy San Francisco Program.  Healthy San Francisco requires employers with at least 20 staff members to offer health coverage to employees.  Information regarding Healthy San Francisco can be found at the program’s homepage. 
     Julie Ward claims that her former employer Crane and Co. was not properly funding employee insurance benefits.  She began asking about Healthy San Francisco coverage in January 2008 and was ignored by her boss.  On May 8, she threatened to file a complaint with the city about this coverage, and was then fired on May 9.
     Obviously Crane and Co. has been tight lipped on this issue, simply stating that the firing had nothing to do with the questions about health coverage.  Ward counters that she received nothing but praise from her boss prior to the requests for health coverage.
     The city of San Francisco is currently investigating Ms. Ward’s claims.  It will be interesting to see what information this investigation yields and how this claim proceeds. 
     --Michael Sachs