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Know Your Rights As A Whistleblower

On Behalf of | Dec 8, 2017 | Whistleblower

If you want to file a claim against your employer, it is important you learn your rights. There are legal ways to protect yourself from retaliation. A California whistleblower lawyer can tell you in more detail the areas of protection you are entitled to as a whistleblower in California.

Protection Against Retaliation

Sometimes claims are covered by more than one protection. In other words, it all depends on who you work for and the nature of your whistleblower lawsuit. Whistleblower retaliation can manifest in multiple ways such as wrongful termination and denial of opportunities for advancement within the company. The employer can also make the whistleblower feel so miserable that he or she has to resign. Retaliation can also be more subtle. The employee may not have access to the same resources other employees have and may not receive adequate training to complete the assigned tasks.

California laws protect different categories of whistleblowing such as:

1 Employee who report criminal or illegal activity by the employer
2 An employee who reports a violation of law to a supervisor or manager
3 An employee who discloses a labor law violation such as wage and hour
4 An employee reporting an inefficient activity

Your Options As A Whistleblower

Whistleblowers facing retaliation can sue their employers for damages. Some damages you can receive include:

1 Lost income and lost benefits
2 Compensation for pain and suffering caused by the employer’s retaliation
3 Some cases may include punitive damages

Protection For Wage And Hour

This is a protection statute that provides protection for labor law violations, including wage and hour. Sometimes employers pay their employees less than they are supposed to, fail to compensate them for overtime, or to provide them with the required break periods.

Protection For Public Employees Under The California Protection Act

California whistleblower laws protecting public employees differ from the laws protecting employees in the private sector. Private-sector employees are protected when reporting illegal activity at work. The California Protection Act, on the other hand, protects public employees who report:

1 Violation of law such as corruption, fraud, and bribery.
2 Any situation that threatens public safety.
3 Useless or inefficient activity by the government.

How And When You Can File A Claim

You must file a whistleblower or retaliation claim in the right court. If you believe you have a claim, it is important you hire a California whistleblower attorney. You generally have up to 2 years to file your claim. However, cases involving discrimination, occupational safety and health, and workers’ comp have different deadlines.

We Protect Whistleblowers in California

If you suspect your employer is retaliating against you due to your whistleblower actions, you can call us and schedule an initial case assessment with one of our expert whistleblower attorneys in California. We understand this can be a challenging time for you. This is why we are committed to fight for the rights of our clients and obtain the compensation they deserve.

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