Whistleblowers are courageous individuals who report wrongdoing by their employers in order to protect the well-being of fellow employees or the public at large, often at great risk to their own livelihood, job security, and safety. It is no secret that employers, whether they are private corporations or government agencies, do not like to have their unethical, illegal, or dangerous business and operational practices exposed, and often retaliate viciously against whistleblowers.
Many employers and agencies also attempt to paint whistleblowers as attention-seeking, disgruntled workers hungry for the media spotlight. In reality, most whistleblowers receive little media attention and are put in great personal danger from their efforts – hardly the attention-grabbers that employers characterize them as.
Recognizing how serious the threat of retaliation is, several laws have been enacted over the years to protect whistleblowers, including:
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
- U.S. False Claims Act (FCA)
- Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA)
- No-FEAR Act
Enforcement of such laws by public agencies have not been able to completely stop widespread persecution of whistleblowers. Government agencies which handle whistleblowers’ cases include:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Austin Whistleblower Claims
Private legal actions may often be the best way for whistleblowers to seek justice. However, given the complexity of the body of law concerned with whistleblower cases, competent legal representation is a must. Austin whistleblower lawyers Dominic Audino and Andrew Traub handles cases involving:
- Texas Whistleblower Claims
- Qui Tam
- Nursing Homes
- Hospital Workers
- Refusing to Perform an Illegal Act
To learn more about how Austin whistleblower attorney Andrew Traub can help you, contact us today.