In 2014, three new laws were enacted and added to the California Whistleblower Protection Act. The act already prevented employers from retaliating against employees that reported violations of state and federal laws to government officials or the police. Here is a look at the three laws that strengthened whistleblower protections in California.
- The act was expanded to include the reporting of a suspected violation internally or externally to any public body conducting a hearing or investigation.
- This liability was expanded beyond the employer to include anyone acting on behalf of an employer.
- The act was expanded to protected workers who reported violations of state and federal law, even if doing so was not part of the employee’s official job duties.
If you are retaliated against for whistleblowing and you are eligible for protections under the California Whistleblower Protection Act, you can file a claim for damages sustained due to retaliation. This can include repayment of lost wages, reinstatement after wrongful termination and sometimes even damages related to damage to your reputation, depending on the type of retaliation you were subjected to.
If you believe you have been a victim of retaliation at work because you reported illegal activities either internally at work or with some other public body conducting hearings or investigations, you should discuss your case with a qualified employment law attorney.
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