OUR WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY LOS ANGELES IS READY TO ASSIST YOU
The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 (WPA) is the basis for many of the whistleblower protection measures that exist today. If you intend to report wrongdoing in your workplace, you need to be well versed in the provisions of this hallmark law. This article will be looking at various aspects of the Act, including its history, evolution, and major provisions. Read on to find out whether you qualify to be a whistleblower, what the procedure for disclosure involves, and why you should hire a whistleblower attorney in Los Angeles to guide you along the way.
Whistleblower Protection Act History
The history of whistleblower protection can be traced back to 1778 when Congress passed a law to protect those who wished to disclose the illegal acts of their superiors. The Act was passed to protect ten sailors who filed a petition against their commodore, claiming that he had tortured British prisoners during the Revolutionary War.
In more recent times, the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 provided more specific protection to federal employees who wished to bring attention to the wrongful Act of their superiors. The Act underwent revisions by the WPA to provide better coverage by:
- Clarifying the procedure that whistleblowers would follow to disclose illegal acts and retaliation
- Separating the Office of Special Counsel from that of the Merits Systems Protection Board. The OSC is dedicated to receiving disclosures, investigating retaliation claims, and representing whistleblowers
Who is Covered by the Whistleblowers Protection Act?
A whistleblower is an employee who discloses misconduct in a federal office. To qualify for protection under the WPA of 1989, you must be a present or past federal employee. Prospective employees, such as applicants for a federal job, can report wrongdoing as well.
However, not all government employees are covered by the WPA. For instance, members of the military, federal contractors, and employees of the U.S postal service don’t get covered by the Act. Additionally, those who work for intelligence services like the NSA and CIA cannot bring their knowledge of misconduct to the OSC for further investigation. This is especially true where the information in question relates to confidential matters such as national defense.
What Type of Conduct May Be Reported?
The WPA provides that employees can bring information about any of the following actions to the OSC:
- Violations of laws, rules, and regulations
- Gross mismanagement of funds
- Specific danger to public safety and health
- Abuse of power
An employee who has first-hand knowledge of such actions can bring it to the OSC. It is essential the information presented be verifiable. It will not accept secondhand information and speculations. One can also not make an anonymous disclosure to the OSC. You may, however, request that they keep your identity confidential, which by law, they must do.
Once a report gets made to the OSC, the office assesses it on its merits. If they find it warranted, they forward it to the relevant authority for investigation and action. The OSC deals with retaliation claims in addition to disclosures. Retaliation refers to when a federal officer, typically a superior, causes a whistleblower to suffer because of what they’ve disclosed. Retaliation can involve:
- Threatening to fire the employee or firing them.
- Demoting an employee
- Creating a hostile workplace environment
For a retaliation claim to succeed, an employee needs to prove three things;
- Another person had already made the disclosure
- The employee had questionable motives to disclose the wrongdoing
- The employee first disclosed to an officer who participated in the misconduct
- The employee made the disclosure when they were off duty
- A lot of time has passed since the events revealed took place
Further, the Act creates the office of the Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman. The purpose of this office is to afford aggrieved whistleblowers a chance to bring their issues to an administrative justice office. The law enhances punishment for whistleblower protection violations. This is meant to deter those who might want to undermine the protective measures the law grants whistleblowers. For a successful claim, it is vital to have an experienced lawyer represent you.
Conclusion
WPA plays the essential role of ensuring that those who raise awareness about misconduct in government offices do not suffer retaliation for their actions. This legislation aims to empower employees to come forward with information about misdeeds in federal offices without fear of suffering unpleasant consequences. This can help save many public funds, minimize instances of corruption, and prevent federal officers in positions of power from misusing their authority.
If you intend to disclose some information to the OSC, it is vital that you first seek legal representation. Our employment attorney in Los Angeles will help you understand the intricacies of witness protection law. They will also help you determine the protection provisions that best protect your interests. Should things go wrong at any stage during the disclosure, you will have an invaluable asset.
For more information about whistleblower protection, don’t hesitate to contact our law firm. We specialize in providing whistleblower legal representation in California. We look forward to hearing from you.