Understanding California’s Whistleblower Protections: Reporting Unlawful Practices
If you suspect any illegal activities going on in your workplace, you should not hesitate to report them to law enforcement agencies. You should follow the legal procedures to stand against unlawful practices. California state laws have distinct provisions for protecting employees from whistleblower retaliation. You should know the whistleblower laws in California to report illegal activity in your workplace. Read on to learn more about California’s whistleblower protection laws.
Whistleblower Laws in California: The Key Aspects
According to California whistleblower protection laws, your employer can not retaliate against you if you report suspected violations of laws, regulations, and public policy. You can report any criminal activity going on or violation of labor laws in your workplace. Labor Code 1102.5 LC gives general whistleblower protection to the employees of California. This law states that you have the liberty of disclosing information to law enforcement agencies when you reasonably believe that illegal activities are going on in your workplace.
Furthermore, the Labor Code 1102.5 protects the employees in case their suspicion turns out to be wrong. Your employer can not demote or terminate you as long as you reasonably believe that a violation of laws occurred.
The Fair Employment and Housing Act also has a provision to protect employees from whistleblower retaliation. There is another law named the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Section 806 of this act preserves the employee’s rights against whistleblower retaliation. They can sue their employer in court if they wrongfully terminate them for reporting illegal activities.
What can I do if I am a victim of whistleblower retaliation?
First, you need to know your worker’s rights to exercise the state law. You should file a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit in the California Superior Court if you believe that you are a victim of whistleblower retaliation. Alternatively, you can make a formal complaint with the Labor and Workplace Development Agency. You should inform the law agency about your issue. You should talk to a representative of the agency and let them know about your situation. You can file the complaint online or via phone and mail. They may take your case and conduct further investigation on your behalf. If they do not choose your case, you can go for filing your own lawsuit in court. According to general whistleblower protection, you will have three years to file a lawsuit in California Superior Court. You can seek legal compensation like lost wages, back wages, benefits, punitive damage, compensation for emotional distress, etc. It is always a good idea to seek the help of a professional.
Final Words
You have the rights protected by federal and state laws against whistleblower retaliation. If you want to protest against the unfair treatment of your employer, you will have to be aware of the whistleblower laws in California. You can file a complaint under these laws and ask for compensation. In this way, you can handle the issue of whistleblower retaliation in the workplace. Hopefully, this article will be helpful for you. If you want to learn more about this regard, comment below and we will come back to you soon.
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