The complaint, issued Oct. 8 by regional director Jennifer Hadsall, alleges the Oconomowoc-based mental health provider retaliated against employees for supporting the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). It also alleges Rogers officials improperly accused workers of criminal conduct and threatened them with criminal or civil charges, lawsuits and professional misconduct complaints.

The allegations have not been decided by a judge. A hearing before an NLRB administrative law judge is scheduled to begin Dec. 14 in Milwaukee.

Rogers declined to comment on the allegations, saying in a statement that the case is an active legal matter. The organization said it respects employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act and follows applicable laws and its policies.

Three West Allis employees were fired in February, shortly after they publicly backed a petition for union recognition, the complaint says. A fourth employee was suspended on April 22, the day of the union vote, and fired five days later. The complaint alleges she was disciplined for escorting the three fired workers to the polling area so they could cast ballots.

Two more employees were also suspended on the day of the vote and fired five days later, according to the complaint. It alleges all six lost their jobs because they supported the union and to discourage other employees from organizing.

West Allis clinic employees voted 53-4 to join the union on April 22. Workers at Rogers’ Madison clinic voted 26-4 in favor. Rogers has not recognized the union at either location and is appealing the West Allis election result.

The organizing effort began in 2025 amid employee concerns that company policy changes had increased client caseloads and reduced one-on-one care, according to the account of the campaign. Workers at Rogers clinics in California and Pennsylvania had previously organized with the NUHW.

The NLRB complaint also challenges instructions and policies on confidentiality. It alleges a manager told the three employees fired in February not to discuss their terminations, while Rogers President and CEO Cindy Meyer directed employees to keep their employment terms and conditions confidential. The complaint says those instructions and broader confidentiality policies interfered with workers’ rights under federal labor law.

It further alleges that a memo from a Rogers attorney characterized protected union activity as criminal, unlawful or professional misconduct and threatened employees with legal action and complaints to licensing organizations.

The union said Rogers Vice President Steven Hertig also filed a licensing complaint against fired employee Kate Zolandz with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. According to the union, the complaint cited Zolandz wearing a cape during her lunch break on election day and claimed a patient became dysregulated. The state agency later told Zolandz’s attorney that the information did not indicate a violation of applicable laws or administrative rules, the union said.

“We took a stand to improve care for our patients, and Rogers executives tried to ruin our careers,” Zolandz said in a union statement.

Rogers operates mental health hospitals and residential and outpatient clinics in 10 states.