When workers in New Jersey report employer misconduct and are then fired or subjected to mistreatment for doing so, they are often able to get their jobs back and obtain compensation under federal and state laws. This is because very strong legal protections are afforded to whistle-blowers in the private sector. Unfortunately, such rights of federal government employees are much more limited.

However, on Tuesday, President Barack Obama signed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, which expands the rights of federal workers who report fraud, misconduct or other illegal actions.

Under the new law, which passed unanimously in the Senate recently, the scope of protected employee disclosures has been expanded as well as the penalties for agencies that violate whistle-blower protections. Additionally, some federal agencies will now have an ombudsman on staff who will teach employees about their rights.

While some have said the employment law reform is only a small step, the new law does close some loopholes that previously left whistle-blowers unprotected. For example, previously whistle-blowers were only protected if they were the first to report the misconduct. This will no longer be the case.

Another new whistle-blower protection will make it easier to punish supervisors who retaliate against workers.

No worker should be retaliated against when they report the fraud, misconduct or wrongdoings of their employer–whether in the private sector or the government. Unfortunately, this does happen and it is important that employment laws are in place to allow such workers to protect their rights.

Source: Wall Street Journal, “Obama Signs Whistleblower Protection Bill into Law,” Samuel Rubenfield, Nov. 27, 2012

Source: Associated Press, “Whistle-Blower Bill For U.S. Workers Signed by Obama,” Larry Margasak, Nov. 27, 2012