Deciding to blow the whistle on some form of illegal act within a company or government body can be difficult due to the position this situation can place one in. It’s scary to contemplate whether or not doing so is the right choice, but know that there is help available through legal means. There are laws in the United States and Texas that protect the rights of those who speak out against these types of wrongful acts. Let’s go over a few of these.
What is a Whistleblower?
A whistleblower is any person or group of people who discovers wrongdoing within a company or government agency and decides to reveal this information to the public. This type of wrongdoing can include acts of fraud or corruption, among others. When a person discovers these acts and speaks out, it’s referred to as whistleblowing. Oftentimes, whistleblowers will require legal assistance with their situation.
You Are Protected
The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 was established to protect federal employees who’ve acted as whistleblowers from retaliatory actions by government agencies. These actions can include harassment or even employment termination. On a state level, we have the Texas Whistleblower Act that offers the same protections.
The False Claims Act can also apply to these types of cases, and a qui tam lawsuit may be filed against the party who committed the wrongdoing. If the lawsuit is successful, the whistleblower may receive a portion of the award from that outcome. whistleblowers.gov has more helpful information about this topic.
Speak Out
Having integrity is not something to be ashamed of. Being honest and speaking up against unlawful acts can be scary, and it’s normal to fear the expectation of negative consequence in the workplace as a result. Nonetheless, reporting such actions can prevent them from continuing, and doing so can even protect the integrity of a company or government body whom the act was committed against.
Reach Out to Us
If you’ve discovered some form of wrongdoing in your workplace and need help bringing it to light, then we can help. If you need help regarding a qui tam lawsuit, then reach out to us to see what we can do.