What is the whistleblower law? At Whistle Blower Law, this is just one of the many questions we answer regularly for our clients and potential clients.
Once a government employee believes they have proof of illegal or dangerous activity in their workplace, they often begin to do research on their own. They wish to educate themselves on the laws in place for prosecuting the illegal activity in their workplace. However, it becomes clear very quickly that the laws in place are complex. Ultimately, there are many different aspects to understand. Therefore, when potential whistleblowers show up at our offices, they are full of questions concerning the law and how it can protect them.
Are you considering filing a claim against your employer? It is important you understand the ins and outs of the laws. In this article we will explain the Whistleblower Law, when it applies, and who benefits.
What Is the Whistleblower Law?
When a whistleblower steps forward, filing a claim against a government agency where they are employed, they will have to publicly share the evidence they have of illegal activity in their workplace. As you can imagine, their employer may become angry and may try to retaliate against the employee.
The Whistleblower law is a federal law put in place to protect whistleblowers who are working for government agencies from retaliation at the hands of their employer.
Who Does the Whistleblower Law Benefit?
The Whistleblower law protects government employees who have exposed their employer’s illegal or dangerous activities. Therefore, this law allows employees to file a lawsuit if they have proof their employer is misusing government funds, ignoring and purposefully ignoring policies, or endangering the general public, without fear of suffering retaliation at the hands of their employer. This law makes it illegal, and punishable, to terminate, demote, or act in any discriminative fashion towards an employee who has reported illegal activity in a government agency.
Examples of retaliation can include:
- Terminating an employee after an employer discovers their whistleblower activity.
- Employee is demoted or experiences a dock in pay after their employer discovers their whistleblower activity.
- Employer disciplines or transfers employee shortly after discovering their whistleblower activity.
- Employer begins to treat an employee poorly.
- Finally, spreading malicious information about them after discovering their whistleblower activity.
Do you have proof of illegal activity in your workplace? You can file a claim against your employer under the Whistleblower Law. The law will protect you from retaliation. Also, there may be a financial reward for disclosing your knowledge of illegal activity.
Contact a skilled whistleblower law attorney at Bothwell Law Group by calling 770.643.1606 today.