Are you concerned about illegal activities or wrongdoing in your workplace? Have you considered reporting these irregularities to the authorities but feared your employer would retaliate against you?
Fear not. The United States, the first in the world to enact a law protecting whistleblowers, has a long history with whistleblowing and is considered a pioneer in whistleblower protection laws. So, it is no surprise that Americans have the most legal protections as whistleblowers. If you are interested in these protections, read on to find out.
Your rights as a whistleblower
As a whistleblower, you have the following rights and protections:
- Right to confidentiality
- Right to participate in investigations
- Right to access information
- Right to legal recourse
- Protection from retaliation
Moreover, you have the right to report any law violations to authorities. These violations can include violations in:
- Workplace safety and health
- Environmental regulations
- Consumer product safety
- Financial regulations
- Food safety
- Health insurance reform
- Discrimination and harassment laws
- Securities laws
- Government procurement and spending laws
- Public health and safety
- Public transportation safety
And many more.
The Department of Labor works with different agencies under its auspices to protect you from retaliation and enforce whistleblower protection laws. These protections include the Dodd-Frank Act, False Claims Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Lacey Act and the IRS Whistleblower law.
Consider seeking legal help
If you have a complaint or a concern regarding illegal activity in your workplace, do not hesitate to contact us for a consultation. We help whistleblowers assert their rights and protect them against retaliation.
