Whistleblower Protection: Your Right to Report Illegal Activity
Category: Whistleblower Protection | Published: May 10, 2024
California Whistleblower Protections
Whistleblowers play a vital role in exposing fraud, corruption, and illegal activities. California law provides strong protections for employees who report wrongdoing.
What is a Whistleblower?
A whistleblower is an employee who reports or refuses to participate in illegal activities, including violations of state or federal law, health and safety violations, fraud, or environmental violations.
Protected Activities
California Labor Code Section 1102.5 protects employees who:
- Disclose information to government or law enforcement agencies
- Report suspected violations to supervisors
- Refuse to participate in illegal activity
- Cooperate with investigations
Retaliation is Illegal
Employers cannot retaliate against whistleblowers through:
- Termination or demotion
- Reduction in pay or hours
- Negative performance reviews
- Creating a hostile work environment
What to Do
If you've experienced retaliation for whistleblowing:
- Document all incidents
- Report the retaliation
- Consult an employment attorney
- File complaints with appropriate agencies
Gold Coast Counsel represents San Diego whistleblowers on a contingency fee basis. Contact us for a free consultation.