Whistleblowing: Corruption and Harassment gavel and law book glasses table

Whistleblowing: Corruption And Harassment

Whistleblower Lawyer

There are many reasons to whistleblow, and those that are considering doing so are reminded that they are protected by law to not endure adverse treatment for bringing an issue to light. In fact, whistleblowers are pivotal in making sure the general public is safe and that those who break the law are held accountable. Examples of whistleblower cases can range from accounting irregularities to fraud, and racial discrimination or sexual harassment. It is recognized that whistleblowers  take personal, social, and professional risks when they step forward. If you are faced with a difficult dilemma in the workplace, consider recruiting help from a lawyer who can further protect your best interests.

Employers may try to punish or undermine employees who act as whistleblowers, and these actions can range from persecution to harassment. Examples of retaliation reducing hours, decreasing pay, blacklisting, demotion, or termination of employment. As a whistleblower lawyer from Eric Siegel Law explains, whistleblowers are protected by law, and are advised to recruit help from a legal team if they are worried about retaliation as they file a whistleblower complaint. 

Corruption

These types of whistleblower cases entail reporting a range of illegal misconduct. Corruption includes incidents of bribery, embezzlement, kickbacks, and fraud. As someone who may have access to inside information about a company, if you notice that corruption could be happening, then it is wise to consider whistleblowing. Whistleblowers are the first line of defense against wrongdoing and play a crucial part in enforcement efforts. 

Sexual Harassment

There are numerous policies and laws set in place to safeguard workers from unwanted sexual interactions at work, however, these are often underreported and under-enforced. The consequence of this is that many cases of sexual harassment stay unknown, which can have lasting effects on the victim and puts future employees at risk for the same mistreatment. 

Racial Discrimination

If an employee is treated differently because of their race, descent, color, ethnic origin, national origin, or immigrant status, then this is deemed racial discrimination. Despite the laws that protect people from racial discrimination, it still happens all too often as these factors are used to unfairly decide who is hired, gets a promotion, or receives other benefits in the workplace. 

Fraud

Criminal deception or wrongful act used to gain personal or financial benefits is considered fraud. This offense can be committed in basically any field, such as the government, education, or businesses. The most prevalent examples of fraud include billing for services not performed, concealing safety violations or concerns, false certifications by certifying agencies or educational institutions. Those who commit fraud against the government are likely to face the most severe consequences for their misconduct. `

Deciding whether to come forward about a possible whistleblower complaint can be a tricky choice, especially if you are worried about retaliation. As a whistleblower, you may have some peace of mind knowing that there are laws in place to protect you from adverse treatment. If you prefer to have support as you bring a serious issue to light, consider speaking with a legal team near you for guidance. 

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