Sometimes employees have to work with the added stress of knowing that an illegal activity is taking place at their organization. In some cases, employees cannot take the added pressure and choose to whistleblow against their employees. It is difficult to decide what decision to make because you could risk losing your job or face retaliation from your employer. You should keep in mind that the law protects you completely in case your employer chooses to retaliate against you.
The federal government passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002 to make sure whistleblowers are protected. Anyone who reports any illegal activity within their organization is protected under this act. These crimes usually include white collar crimes like embezzlement, money laundering and bank fraud. Even if the allegation turns out to be untrue, the employee is still protected from retaliation.
Employees who step forward and inform law enforcement agencies about criminal activities within their organization do not deserve to be penalized. However, employers may retaliate against them by denying them certain opportunities. Whistleblowers might not get equal opportunities, and the employer may overlook them for promotions. Even if the employer does not terminate the whistleblower, they will try to create a hostile working environment for the employee.
It is not easy to whistleblow against your own organization. You might even have to face severe internal and external consequences. If you think you are a victim of retaliation from your employer after you chose to whistleblow, it is advisable to contact an experienced employment attorney. The attorney will help you come up with an adequate response and file a complaint in court.
