Accepting a job with an employer often means accepting the practices and procedures of the entity. A California resident may have to adapt their schedule, their production, and their work habits to meet the expectations and needs of their job. However, individuals should not have to set aside their morals in order to keep their positions.
The term “whistleblower” refers to a person who speaks up about wrongdoing happening in their place of employment. This post will discuss what it means to be a whistleblower and what employment protections come along with that distinction. No part of this post should be read as specific employment law advice or guidance.
How a worker becomes a whistleblower
Not all places of employment will foster the need for whistleblower employees. Whistleblowers often come forward when their employers are intentionally breaking health, safety, and regulatory laws. Entities may try to engage in these wrongful and illegal practices to save money or other resources but doing so can create hazards for the environment and the public.
When a person speaks up about the wrongful actions of their employer in these and other contexts, they effectively become a whistleblower. Whistleblowers cannot be retaliated against by their employers for doing the right thing. That means if a person is fired after the report the wrongful actions of their employer to the authorities, their termination maybe wrongful based on their whistleblower status.
What to do if retaliation is taken against a whistleblower
Whistleblowers have rights under California and federal law. Depending on the nature of the violation and the action taken against the individual, it may be possible for the victim to recover some forms of damages. When employment law problems arise and workers feel threatened for doing what’s right at work, they can choose to contact employee rights employment law attorneys for support.