Whistleblower Laws

Employees who report wrongdoing by their employer are often called “whistleblowers.” For public policy reasons, many states recognize a cause of action by employees who are discharged or discriminated against because they filed a claim or reported a legal violation. In some cases, whistleblower statutes only protect employees who reported wrongdoing to governmental agencies, such as health and safety agencies, law enforcement, or state human rights commissions.

However, some states protect employees who report certain types of violations to the employer. Consequently, always seek legal counsel before disciplining or discharging an employee who has reported, participated in, or cooperated in any investigation or complaint against your organization.