A whistleblower can be anyone who reports illegal, unsafe, or unethical practices by a company or supervisor. The term is derived from a referee’s use of a whistle to call out violations or foul play in a sporting event. These public-minded individuals are vital to stopping corporate corruption and defending a fair workplace for all of us, and they are entitled to whistleblower protection.

Retaliation Against Whistleblowers

A number of laws prohibit companies from retaliating against the whistleblowers who expose them through these protected acts. In Washington State, RCW 42.40 protects whistleblowers in state government positions, while RCW 49.60 outlaws companies from retaliating or issuing penalties against those who report them.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also has its own Whistleblower Protection Program that enforces protection laws in the U.S. and provides assistance to workers who experience retaliation from their employers after reporting something that is unsafe, illegal, or unethical in their place of work.

The False Claims Act And Qui Tam Actions

Whistleblower claims must be true to the best of the knowledge of the individuals reporting them. The False Claims Act imposes liability on companies (usually federal contractors) that defraud government programs. The law includes what is known as a qui tam provision, which allows people unaffiliated with the government to take action on behalf of the government through whistleblowing and allegations of fraud. Under these acts, the federal government itself may get involved when an employee suffers from retaliation after filing a complaint against a federal employer. Those workers may be eligible for the following compensation:

• Job reinstatement
• Back pay at double the worker’s standard rate
• Financial compensation for attorney’s fees

When To Hire An Employment Law Attorney

Employers retaliate in different ways against employees who file whistleblower claims. Sometimes the worker is fired, demoted, harassed, denied promotion, or placed under surveillance by colleagues or a supervisor. In many cases, the employee receives undeserved low-performance reviews or a harmful reference when they apply for work elsewhere. Any such action is illegal and entitles the employee to take action against the company.

If an employer has retaliated against you for whistleblowing, call Emery | Reddy, PLLC for experienced legal help. We know what’s at stake when your job is on the line, and if we accept your case, we won’t stop fighting until you’ve received the justice and compensation to which you are entitled.

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Workers’ Rights 

As a Washington State employee, you are entitled to several protections and benefits under state and federal laws.

Document Review

A document review is a comprehensive consultation and analysis of your document’s legal language, context, and impact on your worker’s rights as an employee of Washington State.

Wrongful Termination

If you believe you are a victim of wrongful termination, you need an aggressive and experienced legal team to fight for the justice you deserve.

Meet The Team

The Seattle whistleblower protection attorneys at Emery | Reddy, PLLC are passionate about helping workers with employment law issues and L&I claims. We Help Workers®: it’s our motto and what drives us every day.

We know how companies think, and we understand the tactics they use. Our whistleblower protection attorneys use that knowledge coupled with over two decades of experience to help our clients get access to the L&I benefits to which they are legally entitled and hold employers accountable when they break the law.

If you’re struggling with an employment law issue, injury, or L&I claim, please call us and see how Emery | Reddy can help you today.