Whistleblower Retaliation
Central New Jersey Whistleblower Retaliation Lawyer
Fear of retaliation keeps many employees from complaining about discrimination and other kinds of legal violations in the workplace. While there is extensive statutory and case law prohibiting employers from retaliatory behavior, many employees feel justifiably compelled to consider potential consequences before making the decision to take action.
The attorneys of Kingston Law Group focus on helping whistleblowers take action and bring fraud, misconduct and illegality to light.
Employee Rights And Whistleblower Protection
Whistleblowers are protected under the law from retaliatory behavior such as:
- Attacks on character or reputation
- Changes in shift assignments
- Demotion
- Harassment
- Hostile work environment
- Job loss
- Job transfer to another location or department
- Reduction in hours
- Reduction in wages
- Threats of physical violence
Protections Extend To Both Public And Private Sector Employees
Public sector employers are protected through federal statutes, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Department of Defense Authorization Act, and the Clean Air Act, as well as state statutory and common-law protections. Federal statutes regulating employment or business practices offer additional protections. Informants in the private sector who expose violations of securities law can receive between 10 percent and 30 percent of a penalty if it’s more than $1 million under a program created by the Dodd-Frank Act.
In 2012, President Obama signed into law the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, which expands protections for federal workers. It clarifies the scope of protected disclosures, tightens requirements for non-disclosure agreements, expands penalties for violating protections and adds to the staff of some federal agencies an ombudsman whose job will be to educate agency employees of their rights.
Contact A Whistleblower Retaliation Attorney
The legal umbrella of retaliation and whistleblowing protections is opening. If you have been fired or disciplined for reporting employer misconduct, please contact our Mercer County lawyers to arrange a consultation. We accept credit cards and offer general appointments from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, plus evening appointments during the week by pre-arrangement only.