Have you noticed your employer dumping hazardous chemicals in protected environments? Is your employer overbilling for goods and services? Does discrimination and sexual harassment go unpunished at your workplace? Have you caught your employer violating federal and state regulations?
You have the right to report your company for illegal, negligent or fraudulent activities. However, you may be concerned that doing so will jeopardize your job security. Under California laws, you are protected from retaliation for whistleblowing. Here is what you should know:
Whistleblowers are protected from retaliation
The California Whistleblower Protection Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Cal/OSHA) protect employers who have reported unsafe work conditions or unethical actions. While it may be possible that your employer fires you for reporting illegal actions at work, doing so could be considered wrongful termination. A business could face serious fines for retaliating against a protected employee through actions such as wrongful termination, unreasonable demotion, harassment or unjustified negative performance reviews.
How to protect your rights
If you believe you are experiencing workplace retaliation after whistleblowing, you should consider taking steps to protect your rights. You can begin by documenting your experiences at work, including any texts, calls or emails you have with your employer, actions taken by your employer and statements from people who have witnessed retaliation against you.
You should not be punished for holding your employer accountable for illegal activities and making your job a safer place. You may need to seek legal guidance to help ensure your rights are protected after whistleblowing.