{"id":371606,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:22","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-whistleblower-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-06-02T10:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:56:09","slug":"arizona-whistleblower-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-whistleblower-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Whistleblower Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arizona Whistleblower Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, 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\n\n

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The state of <\/span>Arizona<\/span> has laws that protect employees who report wrongdoing by their employers. Whistleblower<\/span> protection<\/span> laws ensure that both public and private employees are protected against retaliation for reporting unsafe or illegal actions in their workplaces.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

If an employer is breaking the law, being the person to reveal it to the authorities is no easy task. The Arizona<\/span> Employment Protection Act<\/span><\/a> (AEPA<\/span>) prohibits the termination of an employee under very specific grounds. Not all adverse employment action<\/span> falls under the AEPA<\/span>. The employee must report violations of state or federal law<\/span> and have been terminated because of their actions. Harassment or other adverse treatment (such as demotion<\/span>) is not sufficient, although an employee can claim constructive termination if the harassment caused them to quit.<\/p>\n

Arizona<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>whistleblower<\/span> law<\/span> extends the\u00a0state law<\/span>\u00a0passed in the 1980s that protects\u00a0public employees<\/span>\u00a0who report workplace safety violations. The Arizona<\/span> Employment Protection Act<\/span> (AEPA<\/span>) extends coverage to all workers in all jobs.<\/p>\n

What Is Whistleblowing<\/span>?<\/h3>\n

Some companies can get away with unethical or illegal behavior. The government relies on inspectors and auditors to find evidence of wrongdoing, but those investigations take time. More often, proof of wrongdoing comes from inside. Employees who have proof of violations report the crime to government agencies. The term \u201cwhistleblowers<\/span><\/a>\u201d originated with old mill workers who would pull a whistle to stop work.<\/p>\n

Whistleblowers<\/span> were, and still are, subject to harassment and retaliation for their acts. To help ensure that their valuable help continues, the federal government<\/span> and state legislatures enacted whistleblower<\/span> protection<\/span> laws<\/a>. These laws give whistleblowers<\/span> legal recourse against retaliatory termination and harassment.<\/p>\n

Arizona<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>Whistleblower<\/span> Laws<\/span><\/h3>\n

Arizona<\/span> has two whistleblower<\/span> protection<\/span> statutes. They work together to protect both public and private sector employees<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Private employees are protected from wrongful termination<\/span> only under the AEPA<\/span>. This coverage includes being fired for any of the following reasons:<\/p>\n