Various federal and state laws prohibit discrimination or retaliation against those employees who give information about their employer’s misconduct to law enforcement. Some of the federal laws that protect whistleblowers include the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These individuals are known as whistleblowers, and under some statutes, they may be eligible for compensation for the retaliation they suffered and large reward payments under various federal laws. If you believe that you have been retaliated against by your employer for being a whistleblower, it’s in your best interest to contact a New York employment lawyer immediately.

Federal Whistleblower Law

Federal statutes prohibiting retaliation against whistleblowers include:

• Sarbanes Oxley
• False Claims Act
• Internal Revenue Code
• Regulations under the Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934
• Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989

Several of these may also provide for rewards in significant amounts to be paid to whistleblowers. Million-dollar awards are not uncommon. The rewards are intended to give an incentive to other employees to report similar misconduct by their employers. 

New York Whistleblower Law

New York labor laws provide whistleblower protection to workers in many industries. 

The Prohibited Conduct

An employer may not take any harmful action against an employee engaged in 

:

• Conducting an investigation or preventing fraud
• Reporting misconduct internally or externally
• Filing a formal complaint or lawsuit
• Assisting law enforcement

Any adverse employment action taken in response to these activities is whistleblower retaliation and is prohibited by federal and state law. If you believe this is happening to you, document everything you can and contact a whistleblower attorney immediately. 

Common Whistleblower Cases

The most common case is based on a report by an employee that his or her employer is seeking or obtains a payment from the government to which it is not entitled. Employees who report such conduct to law enforcement are whistleblowers. 

Call a New York Whistleblower Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation

If you believe that you have suffered retaliation for engaging in protected whistleblowing, you need to retain legal counsel immediately. Not only could you potentially recover compensation for your retaliation-related losses, there is also the chance that you could receive additional compensation after the outcome of the case against your employer. To schedule a consultation, call us today at 646-201-8625 or contact us online.