What Is Whistleblower Retaliation and
How to Protect Yourself
Have you ever heard of Bradley Birkenfeld? He received $104 million dollars for his whistleblower role in a US tax evasion scheme.
Whistleblowers keep unscrupulous but powerful people in check by reporting illegal activity. The illegal activity threatens people's health and welfare and often steals taxpayer dollars.
Whistleblower retaliation is sometimes the result of someone doing the right thing. Are you thinking about reporting on some illegal activity in your company? Keep reading for information about protecting yourself from whistleblower retaliation.
Whistleblower Workplace Retaliation
Is your company violating regulations or laws? Is the company causing a dangerous public health and safety situation? Do you feel an obligation to report this information?
It's normal to feel scared because workplace retaliation is a legitimate fear. Workplace retaliation is job termination, demotions, loss of benefits, and more.
Are you ready to report gross waste, fraud, abuse of power, or other legal violations? There are laws protecting you from workplace retaliation. These are whistleblower retaliation laws.
Whistleblower Protections
Whistleblower protections are in place so that workers will report illegal activities. Whistleblower laws protect all employees, even undocumented workers.
Did you file a retaliation complaint against a previous employer? A future employer can't refuse to hire you because of the past claim. The same laws protecting the public also protect employees who disclose illegal activities.
The government wants employees as partners in the fight against crimes against the public good. The government regulates many industries for the safety of the public. They need good people to come forward to report illegal activity that threatens these industries and the public.
Whistleblower protections help keep employees safe from retaliation when they report illegal activity. You can find more information about whistleblower rights here: https://whistleblowerinfocenter.com/resources/blog/what-is-whistleblowing/.
Whistleblower Claims and Whistleblower Retaliation Claims
Whistleblower and retaliation claims are not interchangeable. It's not uncommon, though, for a whistleblower to make both types of claims.
The same laws that protect employees from abuses also protect them from retaliation for enforcing their rights. Laws protecting the public also prevent retaliation when an employee blows the whistle.
Some common laws making retaliation on whistleblowers illegal:
- Corporate fraud laws such as Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank
- Environmental laws protecting our air and water
- Government contract fraud laws
- Medicare fraud laws
- Medicaid fraud laws
- Discrimination and harassment laws
- Workers compensation claim laws
- Union organizing protection laws
- Wage and hour protection laws
These are a few examples of laws that protect both the public and whistleblowers. The government has a vested interest in protecting whistleblowers. Without whistleblowers, it's harder to keep the public safe from illegal activity.
Whistleblower Retaliation: Know Your Rights
When it comes to whistleblower retaliation, you have rights. The government protects those that disclose illegal and fraudulent activity in the workplace.
Are you ready to blow the whistle on illegal activity in your workplace? Talk to an experienced lawyer so you understand all your rights.
Are you looking for more resources? Find more articles on the blog!