
Can I be fired for whistleblowing?
Yes, you can be fired for whistleblowing, but it is definitely illegal, and if you are fired for it, you can bring a lawsuit against your employer. To prove a whistleblowing violation, an employee need prove that he or she engaged in a protected activity (asking for overtime pay, filing a complaint against the Department of Labor or OSHA, reporting sexual harassment, or applying for medical benefits and leave, as in under the Family Medical Leave Act);that the employer took adverse action against him or her; and (3) there was a causal connection between the protected activity and the adverse action. Successful whistleblower litigants can expect reinstatement with seniority, double back pay, interest, special damages sustained as a result of discriminatory treatment, and attorneys fees and costs.