Whistleblower Rights & Retaliation
BLG's employment lawyers represent and advise whistleblowers and victims of retaliation in the workplace. There are federal and local laws that protect employees who report unlawful conduct in the workplace, and BLG can protect you if you are aware of something that you need to report, and make sure that your employer does not unlawfully retaliate. If your employer already has retaliated we can fight to protect your rights and secure financial compensation for your damages.
Whistleblowing is when an employee “blows the whistle” or reports an employer for wrongdoing including fraud and other illegal activities. The law protects whistleblowers against retaliation by those reported and employers also cannot legally punish employees for filing complaints alleging harassment or discrimination.
Legally protected activities in the workplace include filing a discrimination claim or a claim for unpaid wages, a claim of fraud or reporting a suspected violation of law. Employees are also legally protected from retaliation when reporting a safety or important procedural violation in the workplace like one relating to patient or child care.
Engaging an attorney when involved in whistleblowing and retaliation situations can be important; the law often varies state by state and it is important to know and understand your rights and protect yourself.
Some things to consider in whistleblower cases are:
- Statute of limitations/filing deadlines – deadlines can be tight in such cases
- Internal complaint procedures
- Qui tam claims (Claims relating to misappropriation of government funds)
- Whistleblower eligibility for rewards especially in securities cases
Harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature and can include offensive remarks about a person’s gender. For example, it is illegal to harass a woman by making offensive comments about women in general.
Both the victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex.
If you have a whistleblower or retaliation claim against your employer contact The Boyd Law Group, PLLC at (800) 617-4254 or fill out our online Contact Us form to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced whistleblower attorney to discuss your rights and legal options.