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Employees are often the first to notice unsafe conditions, financial fraud, or threats to public health. Without legal protection, many workers would stay silent. Whistleblower laws encourage employees to speak up, which keeps workplaces safer, companies more accountable, and the public better protected.

OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces over 20 federal laws that protect employees from retaliation. Retaliation is when an employer punishes an employee for reporting concerns or exercising legal rights. Retaliation can include termination, demotion, cutting pay or hours, harassment and intimidation. 

OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program is broader than many people realize, and covers issues such as:

  • Workplace safety and health  under the Occupational Safety and Health Act
  • Environmental safety under the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act
  • Transportation safety under the Federal Railroad Safety Act, National Transit Systems Security Act, and Surface Transportation Assistance Act
  • Consumer and investor protections under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Dodd-Frank Act, and Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
  • Food and drug safety under the Food Safety Modernization Act and FDA Food Safety laws
  • Financial misconduct and fraud under the Affordable Care Act and Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act

If you believe you have been retaliated against, you can file a complaint with OSHA. Deadlines vary by law, and can be as short as 30 days after the retaliation, so it is important to act quickly. OSHA will investigate your complaint, and if retaliation is found, you may be entitled to reinstatement, back pay and benefits, protection from further retaliation and other relief. 

If you have faced retaliation for reporting safety hazards, fraud, or other violations, you may have rights under OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program. Because deadlines are short and the laws are complex, it is important to get legal help right away. You can schedule a consultation with Amanda here. 

About the Author
Amanda represents employees whose workplace rights have been violated, advocating for them in both federal and state courts, arbitration, civil service hearings and mediation. She also represents workers before administrative agencies, such as the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Additionally, Amanda assists workers in obtaining reemployment assistance (unemployment benefits) and otherwise helps clients understand their legal rights and obligations before a dispute arises.