Rules for Whistleblowers

Discover the history of the United States’ initial whistleblowers and explore the reasons why the Continental Congress endorsed the world’s inaugural whistleblower legislation.

Explore the transformative evolution of whistleblowing in the last 15 years, which now allows for anonymous and confidential submissions, and has resulted in the disbursement of over 10 billion dollars in financial incentives.

Learn the technical rules for submitting anonymous and confidential complaints essential in protecting you from retaliation.

Since 1986, the United States has implemented laws offering rewards to whistleblowers in areas such as foreign corruption, money laundering, government contracting fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud, and others. Discover the ways in which you can be eligible for multimillion-dollar rewards under these statutes.

You can still receive whistleblower protection even if you were involved in the underlying violation. Find out how this is possible.

There are five key pitfalls that can lead to whistleblowers facing career ruin, losing protection eligibility, and forfeiting their rights to rewards. Discover these traps and how to effectively avoid them.

Whistleblower reward laws apply transnationally. Learn how non-U.S. citizens can obtain rewards, and how Americans can blow the whistle on violations that occur overseas.

When whistleblowers come forward with information, they expose themselves to possible retaliatory actions. Find out how to reduce these risks and increase your chances of success in a case.

Legally acquiring documents to bolster your case can often be the deciding factor between victory and defeat. Discover the methods to do so effectively.

In many states, whistleblowers are allowed to engage in “one-party taping.” Is this a step you should consider taking?

Many corporations offer internal complaint “hotlines” that are managed by the company itself. Is it advisable for you to utilize these channels?

Corporate lawyers represent the interests of the company, not individual employees. Discover how to manage this potential risk.

This guideline highlights the advantages of preserving absolute confidentiality throughout the entire whistleblower process.

If you are employed by a company to identify fraud or misconduct, can you still act as a whistleblower? More importantly, can you be eligible for a reward? Explore the ways this can be achieved.

Even if you’ve signed a non-disclosure agreement, discover how you can still proceed with whistleblowing. It’s possible that the NDA itself might be considered an obstruction of justice.

Is it advisable for a whistleblower to approach the media? Understand the potential costs and benefits of this decision.

Understanding that safety, compliance, and environmental protection involve financial expenditures is crucial. Explore how contemporary whistleblower laws address issues like ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), environmental practices, and other areas of public concern.

The Amendments to the False Claims Act of 1986 offer robust protections and the right to substantial rewards. Discover who qualifies under this act and how to effectively utilize the law.

The Internal Revenue Service’s whistleblower law encompasses all forms of tax evasion, underpayment of taxes, and issues under the commission’s investigative authority. Find out how this legislation has already resulted in the payment of millions of dollars to whistleblowers.

Dodd-Frank represents the pinnacle of whistleblower protection and reward laws, with unparalleled confidentiality and anonymity provisions. Explore how to navigate and utilize this law effectively.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Commodity Exchange Act now allow whistleblowers to receive monetary rewards, irrespective of their citizenship and regardless of where the corruption took place. Don’t forfeit your rights assuming the crimes fall outside of America’s jurisdiction.

As of December 2022, reports on money laundering can be made anonymously and confidentially. The law is expansive, encompassing money laundering, breaches of the Bank Secrecy Act, and all violations of U.S. sanctions requirements. Discover the process for reporting under this law.

Discover the methods to confidentially and anonymously report motor vehicle defects and safety violations as a whistleblower.

Explore how the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships possesses transnational jurisdiction and applies internationally for pollution incidents on the high seas, regardless of the ship’s flagging or the whistleblower’s nationality.

Discover how the wildlife protection laws, which contain some of the earliest provisions for whistleblower rewards, can be utilized to report wildlife crimes, despite their limitations in strength.

Understand how the primary whistleblower laws allow for related action payments. Find out how you can receive rewards based on enforcement actions carried out by agencies that fall outside the scope of a specific whistleblower statute.

United States whistleblower laws were established in response to individual scandals. It’s essential to determine which law offers you the best protection.

Many states offer whistleblower protections through their localized versions of the False Claims Act, which allow for rewards when reporting fraud against state and local governments. Learn about the specific provisions in your state.

State and local employees can seek protection under a Civil Rights law from the Reconstruction era of 1871. Discover how this can be done.

The majority of federal employees are protected under a specific whistleblower law called the Whistleblower Protection Act. While it is complex and has faced criticism, it remains the most reliable source of protection available to federal workers.

Employees in national security and intelligence agencies face significant challenges when reporting wrongdoing, yet there are laws in place to protect them. Delve into their experiences and understand the relevant laws here.

To succeed in a retaliation case, certain specific elements must be established. Ensure that you are prepared to meet each of these criteria.

Whistleblower laws often have precise definitions for what constitutes a protected disclosure. Ensure that your disclosures fall within these covered categories.

Winning a whistleblower retaliation case typically requires engaging in the discovery process. Are you familiar with what discovery entails?

At the core of a whistleblower retaliation case lies the challenge of proving motive and pretext. Here’s a brief overview of what that involves.

Remember the reasons why you chose to blow the whistle and the significance of conveying to a jury that you took a stand against the wrongdoers.

Maximize your entitled compensation. Winning a retaliation case can yield more than just reinstatement and back pay; understand all the potential benefits you’re entitled to.

Nearly every retaliation law mandates that your employers cover your attorney fees if you win your case. Find out how this process works.

Whistleblowing has become the leading method for uncovering corporate corruption and holding white-collar criminals accountable. Discover the reasons behind its effectiveness and why whistleblowers are crucial in the battle against corruption.