OUR FOCUS: Whistleblowing

On its simplest level, whistleblowing is when someone reports waste, fraud, abuse, corruption, or dangers to public health and safety to someone who is in the position to rectify the wrongdoing. 

A whistleblower typically works inside of the organization where the wrongdoing is taking place; however, it is not essential to serve as a whistleblower. What matters is that the individual discloses information about wrongdoing that otherwise would not be known.

It takes courage to be the employee who blows the whistle on a company for its unethical or illegal maneuvers. With that said, many companies would prefer to silence whistleblowers by punishing them or threatening them before they speak out. Such punishment can include internal pressure from bosses, managers, executives, and other employees in order to prevent someone from “blowing the whistle.” That creates a hostile work environment, which can include reprimands, demotion, and perhaps even loss of benefits or firing. 

The most common examples of whistleblowing in the workplace are:

• Corruption - This type of case includes reporting a broad range of illegal conduct. Bribery is one of the best-known examples, but corruption also covers fraud, embezzlement, and kickbacks.
• Race Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Fraud - Price fixing, over-billing or billing for services not performed, concealing safety concerns or violations, and false certifications by educational institutions or certifying agencies.

If you believe you are the victim of discrimination or wrongful termination as a result of whistleblowing, we can help you. Speak with an experienced whistleblower lawyer who can help you navigate the complicated landscape of federal and state whistleblower law.