{"id":357906,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/whistleblowers\/what-to-do-if-you-ve-been-fired-for-whistleblowing.html"},"modified":"2024-04-18T15:45:21","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T20:45:21","slug":"what-to-do-if-you-ve-been-fired-for-whistleblowing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/whistleblowers\/what-to-do-if-you-ve-been-fired-for-whistleblowing.html","title":{"rendered":"What To Do If You’ve Been Fired for Whistleblowing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What To Do If You've Been Fired for Whistleblowing<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\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

Reporting safety hazards at work or speaking up when a coworker is being harassed is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, some employers retaliate against workers who report unlawful activity. If your employer fires you after you report workplace violations, you may be able to file a claim under whistleblower protections.<\/p>\r\n

A whistleblower<\/a> is someone who reports unsafe or illegal activity within a company or a government agency. This can include sexual harassment, failure to pay overtime, or safety hazards.<\/p>\r\n

Whistleblowers play an important role in holding companies and governments accountable for wrongdoing. Government agencies often rely on worker complaints to learn of potential violations. As a result, whistleblowing is a legally protected activity under most federal and state laws. This means that employers can’t punish those who report misconduct.<\/p>\r\n

Federal Whistleblower Protection<\/h2>\r\n

Whistleblower protection<\/a> is provided in areas as varied as finance, nuclear energy, and clean air and water.<\/p>\r\n

Most laws also protect you if you take advantage of your rights under the law. For example, your employer can’t fire you or otherwise punish you for filing a workers’ compensation claim for an on-the-job injury.<\/p>\r\n

Some common federal laws protecting workers from retaliation include:<\/p>\r\n