Many people have reported when their employers engaged in unlawful or shady practices, only to lose their jobs as the result. In fact, a new study on state whistleblower lawsuits indicate that most employees who initiate this action will be fired. A recent report by a whistleblower advocacy group claims that most people who expose wrongdoing in the workplace will face some form of retaliation, and many find it hard to protect themselves.
According to a survey conducted by the nonprofit National Whistleblower Center in Washington, approximately half of those who responded had stated that they were fired after reporting unlawful conduct by their employer, and others had stated that they had endured either harassment on the job or unfair discipline. Another study claimed that 74 percent of whistleblowers were terminated. Certain whistleblowers are protected against retaliation by law, but others are not. There are current federal laws that allow whistleblowers to fight employer reprisals in certain cases, such as those that involve airline safety or nuclear power plant violations.
All states have laws to protect public employees from retaliation. Most whistleblower laws were created to encourage public employees to report fraud, waste, and abuse in government agencies. Certain laws also protect contractors and private sector employees. However, if you expose other types of abuse, such as election fraud, campaign finance abuse, obstruction of justice, or witness intimidation, you may not be protected.
If you have lost your job because of whistleblowing, you need strong advocacy to the justice and the compensation you deserve. To learn more, please call the Philadelphia whistleblower lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. at 215-569-1999. You can also contact us online for a free consultation. Our office is centrally located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
