Massachusetts Whistleblower Laws
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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Most states have laws that prohibit retaliation, including termination or demotion, against employees who report dangerous, unethical, or otherwise unsavory acts by their employer. These so-called "whistleblower" laws protect employees who otherwise might not step forward with important information. Unlike some other states, Massachusetts whistleblower only apply to public employers and have many qualifiers included.
Learn more about Massachusetts' whistleblower laws in the following table. See Whistleblower Retaliation Could Land You in Trouble and the below links for more information.
Code Section |
Massachusetts’ whistleblower law is located in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149, section 185. |
Prohibited Employer Activity |
An employer cannot discharge, suspend, demote, or take any other retaliatory action against an employee if the employee does one of the following:
|
Protection for Public or Private Employees? |
Massachusetts’ whistleblower laws apply to public employees. |
Opportunity for Employer to Correct? |
An employee must give written notice of the violation to the employer and allow the employer the opportunity to correct the issue unless one of the following applies:
|
Remedies |
Within two years of any retaliatory actions, an employee or former employee can file civil action. The employee has the right to request a jury trial if desired. A judge can give all civil law tort remedies available including:
|
For more information about your rights as an employee, or if you believe your employer has retaliated against you for revealing company or employer misconduct, you may want to contact a Massachusetts employment law attorney for assistance.
Research the Law:
- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
Related Resources for Whistleblower Laws:
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