Workers who witness illegal or unethical behavior taking place within their place of employment are encouraged to file whistleblower claims. Unfortunately, many employees do not alert the proper channels out of fear of retaliation by their employers. Workers should not be afraid to report their observations to the proper authorities.
A St. Louis whistleblower lawyer at our firm could help you report illegal activity taking place in your workplace. If you have already blown the whistle on your employer and have experienced retaliation as a result of speaking out, our employment law attorneys are prepared to go to court to protect your rights.
Employees who expose corruption or wrongdoing on the part of an employer are granted certain legal protections by federal law. Examples of protected whistleblower activities include:
A St. Louis attorney could help individuals determine whether a violation of the law has occurred and to come forward with pertinent information in a whistleblower claim.
It is understandable that people may be hesitant to come forward as whistleblowers. After all, employers engaged in illegal activity are interested in avoiding exposure, so employees who threaten to contact the authorities or who alert upper management are often subject to harassment, intimidation, or termination. However, it is illegal for any person or company to retaliate in any way against a whistleblower or any worker who cooperates in a government investigation.
When whistleblowers are retaliated against, they can demand compensation in court. In some cases, whistleblowers are entitled to economic damages for acts of retaliation undertaken by an employer. Damages may include compensation for lost wages, lost earnings, lost standing or opportunity, denied promotions, and emotional pain and suffering when coupled with physical harm. The attorneys at our firm protect the rights of whistleblowers, seeking damages from employers who engage in retaliatory actions against them.
Various branches of the United States government rely on whistleblowers to learn about violations of the law. For the most part, these are financial crimes that are the result of corporate misconduct. If you have witnessed these activities while an employee of one of these companies or in any other capacity, you have the right to come forward as a whistleblower.
A St. Louis whistleblower lawyer is ready to help you. This can include filing a new complaint and protecting you against any possible or ongoing retaliation. Contact our firm today if you have been retaliated against for exposing illegal activities at your company or if you would like the advice of an attorney for how to go about properly blowing the whistle on your employer.
