Losing a job is not an experience anyone ever wants to go through. Even more so, when someone feels like they’re doing the right thing by speaking up about wrongdoing at their company and then gets fired, it can be extremely disheartening. There are laws, though, that protect people in these types of situations.
What is Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is defined as when an employee reports unethical or illegal conduct within the workplace. Examples of illegal conduct include when an employee reports the company for mislabeling or putting false information on products, lying on tax returns, or engaging in shareholder fraud.
How is a Whistleblower Protected?
There are several federal laws that protect whistleblowers. Those include:
- The False Claims Act
- The Dodd-Frank Ace
- The Sarbanes-Oxley Act
- The IRS Whistleblower Program
- The Consumer Financial Protection Act
- The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
- The Clean Air Act
- The Toxic Substance Control Act
What Do I Do If I Have a Whistleblowing Claim?
Those with whistleblowing claims must proceed with the allegation cautiously. It is common for potential whistleblowers to be fired prior to filing a claim which means the whistleblower would have a possible retaliation claim as well. This is why it’s advised to contact an experienced civil rights attorney immediately to review your case if you have a whistleblowing claim.
How to File a Whistleblowing Claim
If you choose not to hire an attorney, there are a few ways you as an individual can file a whistleblowing claim.
- Online — there is an online whistleblower complaint form you can use to submit your claim. Some states are under the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) State Plan. That means if you file a whistleblower claim in a state with a State Plan, your case will be referred to the state rather than the federal government.
- Fax, Email, or Mail — you can download or print a copy of the online whistleblower complaint form and submit it via fax, email, or mail.
- Telephone and In-Person — you can make your complaint via telephone (or in-person if COVID restrictions are lifted) to a local OSHA regional or area office.
Rather than try to make a whistleblowing claim on your own, you should contact the team at HDR Law. Our dedicated attorneys have litigated across the country and can help you where you are. Reach out to us today at (404) 341-4434.