Understanding Whistleblower Protection Laws
What is a whistleblower? Hi, I’m Lindsay McDowell, an Oklahoma workers’ rights lawyer. In Oklahoma, generally, employees are viewed as at will, meaning an employer can terminate you for any reason or no reason at all. But there’s a term called whistleblowers, or maybe you might hear it as retaliation, where an employee has blown the whistle or made a report to someone about some kind of violation by their employer.
And the law holds that an employer cannot terminate you for being a whistleblower or a reporter of illegal and improper action that violates public policy. Some of those things may include filing a worker’s compensation claim. An employee cannot be terminated for filing a worker’s compensation claim. Or maybe you believe that your employer is trying to require people to do something that is illegal or a violation of safety and health laws.
If someone reports that, they’re viewed as a whistleblower and they should not be terminated. The same is true if they feel that maybe the employer is violating some kind of labor law related to the health and safety of its own employees or related to how employees are being paid. There’s always more specific details involving each of these matters and I’d be happy to discuss those and answer any questions.
Initial Consultation with an Oklahoma Employment Attorney
If you have any concerns about being a whistleblower or facing retaliation from your employer, don’t hesitate to reach out. I offer a low-cost consultation to discuss your situation and provide guidance on how to protect your rights. Contact me at oklahomaworkersrights.com. As an Oklahoma whistleblower attorney, I’m here to help.
