{"id":4794,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/workplace-retaliation.html"},"modified":"2024-06-25T14:23:26","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T19:23:26","slug":"workplace-retaliation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/workplace-retaliation.html","title":{"rendered":"Employer Guide to Whistleblower and Workplace Retaliation Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Employer Guide to Whistleblower and Workplace Retaliation Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\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

Small businesses can seem like families. When there is a disagreement or dispute, there is a temptation to handle it within the company rather than turn to outsiders for help. An employee seeking outside help can leave the employer or business owner feeling angry or betrayed. Small business owners<\/a>, just like big companies, may want to retaliate against a whistleblower or complainant.<\/p>\r\n

But federal law prohibits workplace retaliation, especially against whistleblowers. Employers must take employee complaints about workplace discrimination<\/a> or harassment<\/a> seriously. They must also avoid doing anything that appears to attack who filed the complaint. <\/p>\r\n

What is a Whistleblower?<\/h2>\r\n

A "whistleblower" is any employee or former employee who reports a company’s mismanagement to outside authorities. A whistleblower<\/a> isn’t someone within the company who reports harassment to a supervisor. They are also different from an insider who leaks trade secrets to a competitor.<\/p>\r\n

Whistleblower reports can lead to further investigations by outside agencies. Some government agencies have whistleblower hotlines. The hotlines encourage employees to report known or suspected violations. The government created whistleblower protection acts<\/a> associated with the agencies. They protect workers who make these reports.<\/p>\r\n

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

Many state and federal regulatory agencies depend on whistleblowers<\/a> within companies. They help kickstart their investigation processes. Laws protect private businesses from government scrutiny, just like individuals. Unless someone inside makes a complaint, agencies have no grounds for investigating.<\/p>\r\n

Companies engaged in fraud or other illegal activities may want to retaliate against employees who report them. Because of this, government agencies have robust whistleblower protections for workers who come forward.<\/p>\r\n