|
A “whistleblower” is an individual who alleges corporate wrongdoing by either complaining to an internal representative or to an external source, such as the media or a government agency. For example, Sherron Watkins, who brought to light wrongdoing at Enron, and Jeffrey Wigand, the senior executive who exposed wrongdoing within the tobacco industry, are well-known whistleblowers.
Whistleblowers serve an important function by revealing an employer’s ethical or legal violations. Because of this, laws exist to protect certain whistleblowers from retaliation by their employers. These laws, however, do not apply to all whistleblowers. For example, anti-retaliation laws may apply only when a whistleblower reaches out to a regulatory agency.
If an employee suspects corporate wrongdoing, the employee should contact his attorney. An attorney may be able to assist the employee navigate the internal complaint process. And, if the company resists the employee’s suggestions regarding legal and ethical compliance, an attorney may prove invaluable in extracting the employee from the company on favorable terms.
If you would like to speak to an employment law attorney about a possible ethics violation or a potential whistleblowing situation, contact the employment lawyers at Clouse Dunn LLP at info@cdklawyers.com.
|
