Daytona Beach Whistleblower Lawyer
Florida Whistleblower Lawyer Representing Clients in Daytona Beach
When an employee has concerns about fraudulent or otherwise illegal actions by his or her employer, it can be difficult to know what to do. Many employees fear that they will lose their jobs or face other forms of retaliation if they report their employers to the appropriate state or federal authorities. In other words, when an employee “blows the whistle” on unlawful activity at their place of employment, they frequently worry about how their employer might retaliate against them.
State and federal laws protect whistleblowers from retaliation. If you have questions about how whistleblower laws might be able to protect you, or if you have already faced retaliation at work after blowing the whistle on an illegal or negligent practice by your employer, an aggressive Daytona Beach whistleblower lawyer can speak with you today about filing a claim.
Understanding the Whistleblower Law in Daytona Beach
An employee in Florida has protections as a whistleblower under both Florida state and federal law.
Under Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 112.3187), which is also known as the Florida Whistle-blower’s Act, employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who report violations of the law to the appropriate authorities, or from retaliating against employees who disclose information about an employer’s improper use of a government office, gross waste of funds, or other behaviors that rise to the level of gross neglect of duty.
The Florida Whistle-blower’s Act specifically prohibits employers from taking any kind of adverse personnel action in retaliation, which may include the following:
- Discharging the employee;
- Suspending the employee;
- Transferring the employee;
- Demoting the employee;
- Withholding bonuses;
- Reducing salary;
- Reducing benefits; or
- Disciplining the employee.
There are multiple federal laws that may be applicable to protect whistleblowers. For example, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 protects government employees from retaliation when an employee reports a violation of existing rules and regulations, fraudulent government activity, or other significant harm. Other federal laws exist that also may protection whistleblowers. If you have questions about whether to file a state or federal claim, a Daytona Beach whistleblower attorney can help.
Employees Who Are Protected from Retaliation Under Daytona Beach Whistleblower Law
Employees are protected by the Florida Whistle-blower’s Act in a variety of circumstances where they report incidents of health and safety violations, monetary fraud, and other unlawful activities. The Florida statute specifically states that an employer is prohibited from retaliating against any employee in the following types of circumstances:
- Employee came forward and reported on his or her own;
- Employee came forward after being asked to participate in an investigation, hearing, or other inquiry by a government investigator;
- Employee refused to participate in unlawful activity at work; and
- Employee initiated a complaint through the whistle-blower’s hotline.
Contact a Whistleblower Lawyer in Daytona Beach
Do you have questions about whistleblower protections, or do you need assistance filing a claim after facing retaliation? An aggressive Daytona Beach whistleblower lawyer can begin working on your claim today. Contact The Pendas Law Firm to speak with an advocate about your case.
