Whistleblowers
Yezbak Law is experienced in advising employees on how to “blow the whistle” on employer wrongdoing. Our lawyers also have years of experience representing employees who have been retaliated against for blowing the whistle, whether in negotiations, agency proceedings, litigation, or arbitration.
Protect against Retaliation
Employees who speak out against unlawful activity should never be fired or penalized for doing the right thing.
The laws that protect whistleblowers usually require that certain filing deadlines, called statutes of limitations, be met to preserve legal claims. Employees may also need to meet other prerequisites before filing a whistleblower claim, like following internal complaint procedures. For these reasons, it is important to consult with an attorney early and if possible before you blow the whistle.
Various federal, state, and city laws protect employees who blow the whistle on employer wrongdoing. For example, the law protects from retaliation whistleblowers who report incidents of discrimination, violations of securities laws like Sarbanes-Oxley and the Dodd-Frank Act, and misappropriation of government funds (sometimes called “qui tam” claims). Other laws protect whistleblowers in certain industries, including Air and Rail Transportation, Nuclear Energy, Health Care, Defense Contracts, and Consumer Products Manufacturing. In some circumstances, whistleblowers who report wrongdoing may be eligible for rewards.