There may come a time in your life at which you believe you need to report what you believe is improper conduct of an individual, business or other entity in Washington, DC. In other words, you may find yourself in the position of others who have felt compelled to file whistleblower claims. With this in mind, you need to understand what is meant be being a whistleblower. You also need to appreciate common examples of whistleblower retaliation so that you proactively can protect your own legal interests.

Definition of a whistleblower

When considering whistleblower claims, the starting point is understanding what constitutes a whistleblower. A whistleblower is defined as an individual who reports or informs on the illicit activity of an organization or entity. The report oftentimes is made to some type of regulatory authority but can also be posted to a person in the hierarchy of an organization, including a business or governmental agency.

Prime examples of whistleblower retaliation

The US Department of Labor has identified a comprehensive list of examples of what legally is presumed to be whistleblower retaliation:

• Firing
• Laying off
• Demotion
• Denial of promotion
• Denial of overtime
• Unfounded discipline
• Denial of benefits
• Denial of hiring
• Denial of rehiring
• Intimidation
• Harassment
• Threats
• Isolation
• Blacklisting
• False accusation of poor performance
• Reassignment to less desirable position
• Pay reduction
• Reduction of work hours
• Constructive discharge

If you believe you are the victim of whistleblower retaliation, you best protect your vital legal interests by engaging the services of an experienced Washington, DC lawyer. A qualified attorney typically will meet with a prospective client with whistleblower claims to discuss the case and his or her legal rights and interests.