Whistleblowers may provide valuable information about their employers’ misconduct. The Federal Government protects employees who report misconduct and forbids companies to work in a way that risks their employees’ well-being. When asking employees to engage in unlawful activities, companies could cause harm to their customers and the general public.
If your employer engages in misconduct or asks you to break the law, you may file a whistleblower complaint to report the unlawful practice. The United States Department of Labor website lists more than 20 federal laws that employers violate. You may blow the whistle for a wide range of unlawful actions, including those that harm the environment, food chain or financial systems.
Whistleblower complaints may result in monetary rewards
Successful whistleblowing cases may lead to employees receiving financial awards. The Securities and Exchange Commission, for example, may reward an employee who reports misconduct relating to the stock market, such as when companies publish false or misleading statements.
According to the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower, awards could range between 10% and 30% of a resulting enforcement action that totals more than $1 million. As reported by Whistleblowers.org, employees who reported their employers’ filing false medical claims received more than $7 billion since 1986.
Federal law protects whistleblowers from employer retaliation
As noted on the Department of Labor website, federal law prohibits employers from retaliating against whistleblowers. Experiencing a reduction of hours or getting fired after filing a complaint may indicate that your employer has retaliated and taken adverse action. You may file a legal action to recover.
If your employer violated a rule or engaged in an unlawful action, you may blow the whistle and help prevent further harm. You may also need to compile evidence to submit with your report.
