What Exactly Does It Mean to “Blow the Whistle?”

You may have seen a poster in the employee break room or read about whistle blowing in your company’s employee handbook. If you haven’t taken the time to understand what all the fuss is about, you may be turning a blind eye, and ear, to actions your employer is taking that are illegal or that violate public policies.

Like it sounds, the term “whistleblower” is attached to a person, or group of people, who reports wrongful activity being committed in the workplace. If you have a legitimate claim of wrongdoing by your employer, or someone else in your workplace, you should contact a knowledgeable, experienced lawyer who knows the ins and outs of whistleblower laws and can help you determine if your case has merit.

There are at least two major benefits to “blowing the whistle” on your employer. First, you will stop the illegal activity in its tracks. Second, you stand to make a substantial sum of money; the government will give you a percentage of the funds it reclaims if your successful claim involves the baring or retaining of government funds. A qualified qui tam attorney can explain your rights.

You Are Protected from Retaliation

Perhaps one of the most common, and certainly one of the most important, questions people ask is: “How can I be certain my boss fire me if I report illegal activity?” The answer is simple: whistleblower protection laws give employees the ability to report and testify about an employer’s illegal activity without fear of retribution. If they fire you, demote you, humiliate you, ostracize you, change your duties, or give you a bad performance review because you blew the whistle and reported their illegal activity, you have legal protections and can be compensated if your decision to blow the whistle is held against you.

If they do hold your whistleblowing against you in any way, you have recourse. Talk to the experienced qui tam attorneys at Begelman, Melletz & Orlow today about your case. We represent people, like you, all over the US, who are determined to stand up for what’s right and shine a spotlight on wrongdoing at work.