If you are an employee who knows or has witnessed your company flout the rules, regulations and laws, you are in a precarious position. On the one hand, you want to be a whistleblower and expose their fraud to the world.
But on the other hand, you may also dread the burden (and consequences) of being the one to go to the authorities. Should you blow the whistle or keep quiet? The following may be helpful:
Whistleblowers can get hefty rewards
In cases where there is a significant financial recovery arising from the whistleblower’s information, the whistleblower (or, in qui tam cases, the “relator”) can receive a percentage of total funds recovered by government agencies. That can be substantial and is a powerful motivator for employees to blow the whistle.
It’s the right thing to do
Fraud is never a good thing, and there are no victimless crimes. Those who know or suspect fraud in their workplace can share their concerns with the relevant agencies and right the wrong that was committed.
Anonymous whistleblowing is possible
Still, even conceding all of the above, becoming a whistleblower is still a major step that can expose workers to retaliatory acts and alienation on the job and even in the community. However, it may be possible to make an anonymous report on a whistleblower or qui tam case.
You likely will have many questions about the consequences of blowing the whistle. We can help you learn more about how the laws affect the circumstances of your whistleblowing case.