Although it’s not the ideal situation, if you come across wrongdoing at your place of employment, you may realize that it’s your duty to blow the whistle on your employer.
There are many reasons why some employees turn their heads, including fear of retaliation. For example, this can include but is not limited to:
- Termination
- Demotion
- Harassment
- Pay cut
- Negative performance evaluation
There are both federal and state laws designed to protect whistleblowers, including the following:
- False Claims Act (FCA)
- Whistleblower Protection Act
- Federal Whistleblower Protection Statutes
What should you do about retaliation?
If you’re the victim of whistleblower retaliation, the first thing you should do is speak with your HR department. Ask questions about what’s going on, all with the idea of unearthing new information that you can use to protect yourself.
From there, take these steps:
- Attempt to negotiate a resolution with your employer
- Request a copy of your employee personnel file
- Review your employment contract
- Review your employee handbook
- Obtain any evidence associated with the retaliation
By taking these steps, you’re moving yourself closer to a resolution. If your employer is willing to work things out, this is the best road to take.
However, if your employer continues to fight back, which is more likely, you should learn more about the steps you can take to protect your legal rights.
If you sit back and let your employer retaliate, it will negatively impact your life in a number of ways. You have rights as an employee and it’s up to you to protect them at all costs.
