{"id":357904,"date":"2017-03-06T18:24:33","date_gmt":"2017-03-06T23:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/whistleblowers\/what-is-a-whistleblower.html"},"modified":"2024-03-27T16:37:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T21:37:12","slug":"what-is-a-whistleblower","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/whistleblowers\/what-is-a-whistleblower.html","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Whistleblower?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Is a Whistleblower?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

You’ve probably heard about famous whistleblowers in the news. Or maybe you’ve even seen a movie about one or two who made history. A whistleblower is a person who reports unsafe or illegal activity within their company or a government agency.<\/p>\r\n

Whistleblowers aren’t always famous. But they play an important role in holding companies and governments accountable for wrongdoing. Read on to learn about the laws protecting whistleblowers.<\/p>\r\n

The Birth of U.S. Whistleblower Laws<\/h2>\r\n

Whistleblower laws got their start during the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln signed the False Claims Act <\/a>(FCA) into law in 1863. This was because suppliers of goods to the Union Army were defrauding the military.<\/p>\r\n

The FCA included whistleblower or qui tam<\/a> provisions that encouraged private citizens to bring lawsuits against individuals and companies who were defrauding the government. If successful, the whistleblower could receive a percentage of whatever the government recovered.<\/p>\r\n

The FCA is still in effect today, although it has changed over the years. Other federal, city<\/a>, and state whistleblower laws<\/a> now exist to protect whistleblowers from employer retaliation. Common law doctrines may also protect you.<\/p>\r\n

Types of Wrongdoing<\/h2>\r\n

Whistleblower cases cover virtually any kind of illegal activity, not just fraud against the government. They include activities that risk public health or safety. They also include reporting sexual harassment.<\/p>\r\n

Most FCA claims involve fraud. The fraud can be related to military contractors, health care (Medicare and Medicaid), and other government spending programs. Other common claims involve reports of violations against environmental laws, securities laws, and tax law. Examples include:<\/p>\r\n