If you are aware of any criminal activity, fraud or violations of public policy that your employer is engaging in against the government or the public at large, you should report it to a public agency or authorities immediately. In these cases, you may be deemed a “whistleblower,” and given protection and rights under federal and state whistleblower laws. For example, any employee reporting illegal activity in the workplace is protected by the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) and other federal laws designed to encourage the identification of illegal activity without concern of retaliation.
There are many federal laws offering some form of security to employees for whistleblowing, but the complexity of these regulations make it important for you to contact an attorney to better understand your rights.
Some of the many laws and regulatory agencies within which whistleblower protections may apply include:
- Affordable Care Act – misconduct related to denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions or access to health insurance premium tax credits
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) – misuse of federal funds to stimulate the economy
- Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 – violations of consumer product safety
- False Claims Act – misconduct that defrauds the U.S. Treasury
- Food Safety Modernization Act – violations of food safety regulations
- Internal Revenue Service – tax law violations and underpayments
- Medicaid/Medicare fraud
- Sarbanes-Oxley – improper or misleading public company disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission
- Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 – protections for federal employees who become whistleblowers
We are here to help. If you believe you have been the victim of whistleblower retaliation, please call or email us to set up a free, confidential consultation so that we may discuss your situation. Immediate attention and reporting are crucial in any whistleblower case in order to protect your rights. Our attorneys have extensive knowledge concerning the laws prohibiting whistleblower retaliation and we will work to remedy the discriminating conduct and protect your rights.
