Employees are allowed to report illegal activity without fear of retribution. They are also allowed to take part in investigations related to that activity without being concerned for their safety or reputation at work. As an employer, it is important that you protect whistleblowers and allow them to act as a force for good within your organization.

Whistleblowers Can Uncover Corruption

Ideally, employees who blow the whistle on illegal activity within the workplace will be seen as heroes. This is because they a manager or group of employees could be stealing money from the company without the owners or top executives having any idea about it. However, when an individual speaks up, the information provided could save a company a significant amount of money.

Important Information Could Be Worth Money to the Whistleblower

If an individual knows about a scheme that is costing the federal government money, that person could choose to file a qui tam lawsuit. This is a lawsuit that seeks damages on behalf of the government itself. However, it is not actually filed by the government.

Instead, it is filed by the person who has information about the illegal activity. If that person wins, he or she may be entitled to a percentage of any amount recovered. As a qui tam case can be sensitive in nature, a plaintiff will need a whistleblower attorney to help navigate any problems that occur.

A Whistleblower May Face Retaliation or Harassment from an Employer

While employers are not supposed to retaliate against employees who take part in a protected activity, it can happen. For example, a manager could send an email to everyone in the company outlining what the whistleblower did or who that person is. This could lead to an individual receiving threats both at work and at home.

Whistleblowers Don’t Always Know Their Rights

Those who call out their employers for their illegal behaviors don’t necessarily understand their rights after doing so. Therefore, it can be ideal to have an attorney or others who can protect that person’s rights. If they are violated, legal counsel or other advocates can help to put a stop to the offending behavior.

Ideally, whistleblowers would be treated as helpful and necessary to making companies better. However, those who engage in illegal activity generally don’t like being found out or turned in to the authorities. Therefore, employees who choose to call out a superior or a government agent should seek ways to protect themselves and their families from retaliation or harassment.

About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her husky Snowball. You can find her on Twitter at @LizzieWeakley and on Facebook at facebook.com/lizzie.weakley.