Those who are considering blowing the whistle on criminal or unethical activities in the Detroit region worry quite a bit about the possibility of retaliation. This concern is not just natural; it is completely understandable. After all, most whistleblowers have families that they want to protect from the fallout of blowing the whistle. Examples of whistleblower retaliation include:
- Harassment in the workplace
- Pay cuts or demotions
- Loss of a deserved promotion
- Negative or unfair performance evaluations
- And even unlawful termination from your job
Most people know that federal programs exist to protect whistleblowers from retaliation, but many do not understand how deep these protections run. Regardless of the industry in which you work, an act or program likely already exists to make certain that you and your family remain safe from retaliation.
To aid you in deciding whether or not to become a whistleblower, it can help to familiarize yourself with federal anti-retaliation programs. Examples include:
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Whistleblowers calling out fraud in the nation’s trading (selling or buying securities) industry enjoy tightly controlled protection under this act.
- Whistleblower Protection Act and Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act: These programs protect federal employees who blow the whistle on corruption.
- Affordable Care Act: This program enables whistleblowers to report violations of the act and protects those who do decide to speak out.
Even on the state level, governments take retaliation attempts very seriously. Most states, including Michigan, have programs in place to prevent mistreatment of people who become whistleblowers. Despite this, it is still critical to remain active in your protection. Choosing a whistleblower attorney whose only interest is protecting you and your rights is an excellent way to accomplish this goal.