As we discussed in a recent blog post, the number of whistleblowing cases has increased significantly in the last few years. There is no doubt that the progress and expansion of whistleblower laws and protections have played a role in this increase. However, according...
Whistleblower Protection
Whistleblower Protection
Should you file an internal report before blowing the whistle?
If you witness suspicious or unlawful activity at your place of employment, you must decide how to respond. For most, an internal report is as far as the proceedings will ever go. But, depending on the severity of the offense and your company’s response, you may...
Are you prepared to be a whistleblower?
The stature of a whistleblower is often in the eyes of the beholder. One person's traitor is another person's hero. Those who choose to go public with their information will also face a lot of scrutiny, which not only can be invasive for them but also those around...
What other whistleblower activities are protected against retaliation?
In a recent blog post, we covered a few of the most critical aspects of New York’s whistleblower laws. And one of the most critical things to remember about these laws is that they exist primarily to protect whistleblowers against retaliation when they engage in a...
Can independent contractors blow the whistle?
In today’s “gig economy,” many New Yorkers work as independent contractors. The U.S. Department of Labor reported last year that nearly 1 in 10 workers were independent contractors, and that number only seems to be increasing. However, contract workers often do not...
A closer look at New York whistleblower laws
The language used to write state and federal laws can often be complex and confusing. This can be incredibly stressful when an individual is considering blowing the whistle on illegal or unethical practices in their workplace and must understand the rights and...
Whistleblower investigations: What you need to know
When whistleblowers file their claim, it might take some time before their initial report leads to an investigation. This can often be frustrating for whistleblowers who feel uncertain about their position at work, or even in their life, after filing their complaint....
Another critical look at whistleblower retaliation
With yet another development in the VA whistleblower case, it seems that their fight is far from over. VA whistleblower, Brandon Coleman, reported to USA Today that the VA continues to retaliate against him and other whistleblowers. Recently, they isolated him from...
When should you skip blowing the whistle internally?
Many New York companies encourage employees to report their complaints or concerns internally. In the past, some companies even required it. After all, how else can companies act on those concerns and improve? Internal reporting is still a common step that...
Congress improves practices to protect whistleblowers
For a year now, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reviewed the ways that Congress communicated with federal whistleblowers and handled their information. And at the beginning of May, the GAO finally released the updates they plan to make so...
