Don’t Let Fear Stop You from the Doing the Right Thing

Should you be a whistleblower? It’s not an easy decision.  Many people want to do the right thing, but they are afraid that they will lose their job if their employer learns about their role in the government’s investigation.

We believe that you shouldn’t have to choose between doing the right thing and providing for your family.  Our government agrees. Whistleblower protection laws that make it illegal for an employer to discriminate, demote or fire an employees who files a whistleblower claim.

The Whistleblower Protection Laws

The False Claims Act

The U.S. False Claims Act includes a provision that makes it illegal for an employer to retaliate against the whistleblower. If the employer does retaliate, the employee is entitled to reinstatement, twice his back pay, interest on the back pay, attorney fees and any special damages.

The Whistleblower Protection Act

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 protect whistleblowers who are employed by the federal government. These laws provide financial incentives for whistleblowing and allow whistleblowers who experience retaliation to seek compensatory damages.

Additional laws with whistleblower protections include:

  • Affordable Care Act
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”)
  • Clean Air Act
  • Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act
  • Consumer Financial Protection Act
  • Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
  • Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
  • Energy Reorganization Act
  • Equal Pay Act
  • Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • FDA Food Safety Modernization Act
  • Federal Water Pollution Control Act
  • Frank-Dodd Act
  • National Labor Relations Act
  • National Transit Systems Security Act
  • Occupational Safety and Health Act
  • Pipeline Safety Improvement Act
  • Safe Drinking Water Act
  • Sarbanes-Oxley Act
  • Solid Waste Disposal Act
  • Surface Transportation Assistance Act
  • Toxic Substances Control Act
  • Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century

These are federal laws that apply to employees in a wide range of fields. Industry-specific whistleblower laws protect employees from retaliation when reporting fraud and illegal activity specific to that industry. Many states also have their own employment laws that apply to whistleblower actions.

Have You Experience Employer Retaliation?

If you’ve been transferred, demoted or fired because of your role as a whistleblower, you need information about your rights. Contact Petrelli Law immediately. We can help you prove that you are the victim of whistleblower retaliation and are entitled to protection under whistleblower laws.  Call 800-432-9461 to schedule your FREE consultation.