Federal Employee and Contractor Whistleblower Protections

Employees of the federal government and of government contractors have strong protections from retaliation for speaking out against unlawful, unsafe, or improper workplace practices.  In order to prevail on a claim, a whistleblower must show that his or her whistleblowing was a “contributing factor” to the employer’s retaliatory action – in other words, that the retaliatory motive was a factor, alone or with others, that caused the employer to take an adverse action.  By creating a standard favorable for employees, Congress sought to encourage federal employees and contractors to blow the whistle on wrongdoing.

Testimonial Background
Employees of the federal government and of government contractors have strong protections from retaliation for speaking out against unlawful, unsafe, or improper workplace practices.

Originally enacted in 1989, Congress amended the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) in 2012 to strengthen workplace protections for employees of federal agencies.  The WPA protects federal employees in the executive branch from retaliation for reporting illegal or improper government activities.  Under the WPA, a federal government employee is protected from retaliation for reporting what he or she reasonably believes evidences:

  • A violation of law, rule or regulation;
  • Gross mismanagement;
  • A gross waste of funds;
  • An abuse of authority; or
  • A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

The WPA also protects employee disclosures of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information.  An employee who experiences retaliation prohibited by the WPA can file a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the independent administrative agency tasked with investigating and seeking enforcement actions for violations of the WPA.

National Defense Authorization Act: Protections for Employees of Government Contractors and Subcontractors

Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (NDAA) to strengthen whistleblower protections for employees working for companies that receive federal government contracts and grants. The NDAA created two important protections: (1) it strengthened whistleblower protections for employees of Department of Defense contractors, and (2) it established a temporary, four-year program to protect whistleblowers in companies receiving federal contracts from other executive agencies.  In 2016, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law S. 795, which made permanent the NDAA’s temporary protections for employees of federal contractors and subcontractors.  Similar to the WPA, the NDAA protects an employee of a federal government contractor or subcontractor from retaliation for reporting what he or she reasonably believes evidences:

  • A violation of law, rule, or regulation related to a federal contract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract) or grant;
  • Gross mismanagement of a federal contract or grant;
  • A gross waste of federal funds;
  • An abuse of authority relating to a federal contract or grant; or
  • A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

To gain legal protection from retaliation under the NDAA, the employee must disclose the information to a management official or other employee at the company with responsibility for investigating, discovering, or addressing misconduct; a federal employee at the relevant agency responsible for contract or grant oversight or management; law enforcement; a court or grand jury; an Inspector General (IG); the Government Accountability Office; or a member of Congress or a representative of a committee of Congress.

An employee who is targeted for retaliation for engaging in protected activity can file a complaint with the IG of the executive agency that awarded the contract.  The whistleblower can choose to either pursue relief through the IG’s administrative process or file a complaint in federal district court after 210 days have elapsed from the initial IG filing.

If you are an employee of the federal government or a federal government contractor or subcontractor with knowledge of illegal or improper conduct, or if you have experienced retaliation for whistleblowing, please contact us right away. The whistleblower lawyers at Correia & Puth, PLLC are committed to holding employers accountable for wrongdoing and ensuring that employees are protected when they take a stand against illegal employer conduct, or waste, fraud, and abuse.

Accommodations for Disabilities

We are committed to ensuring that all employees with disabilities have equal access to the workplace.

 

Age Discrimination

We fight employers who use age bias to discourage older workers from staying on the job or keep them from advancement.

 

Corporate Accountability

Corporations must be held accountable for wrongdoing, and whistleblowers often keep employers honest.

 

COVID-19 Protections for Health Workers

If you are a health care worker facing retaliation because you raised concerns, there are laws in place to protect you.

 

Disability Discrimination

We are dedicated to safeguarding the rights of individuals with disabilities and vigorously advocate for equal access.

 

Equal Pay Rights

Motivated by our commitment to workplace fairness, we fight employers who have shortchanged an employee because of bias.

 

Family & Medical Leave Discrimination

The FMLA provides job protected leave so that employees are not forced to choose between their job and caring for loved ones.

 

Family Responsibilities Discrimination

Employees should not be penalized for taking care of their loved ones, and we are committed to fighting for your rights.

 

Federal Employees

We help federal sector employees understand workplace rights and navigate the unique federal agency employment context.

 

Federal Employee Whistleblower Protections

Employees and contractors of the federal government have strong protections from retaliation for speaking out.

 

Gender Identity Discrimination

We believe no employee should face harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of who they are or how they identify.

 

National Origin Discrimination

We believe all employees should be given a fair chance to succeed regardless of their culture and background.

 

Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy and motherhood are not incompatible with work. Our firm fights for expecting mothers and mothers with newborns.

 

Race Discrimination

Employers are forbidden from making decisions to hire, fire, promote, or to provide training or other benefits because of a person’s race.

 

Religious Discrimination

We value individuals' religious beliefs and personal choices and are committed to ensuring the ability to practice without fear.

 

Retaliation

We believe that employees should be able to assert their legal rights without risking their livelihoods.

 

Severance Agreements

Our practice of negotiating severance agreements is built upon years of experience working on behalf of employees at all levels.

 

Sex Discrimination

We work to eliminate gender discrimination, unfair pay, sexual harassment, and unlawful glass ceilings.

 

Sexual Harassment

We are dedicated advocates for the right to a workplace free from a sexually hostile work environment.

 

Sexual Orientation Discrimination

We believe that no employee should be fired, shortchanged, or treated differently because of who they are and whom they love.

 

Title IX Claims

We are a national leader on use of Title IX as an effective tool for an educational environment free from discrimination and retaliation.

 

Veterans (USERRA)

USERRA provides job protections to employees who temporarily leave private employment for military service.

 

Wage & Commission Claims

We fight employers who have wrongfully withheld salaries, commissions, and wages, and hold them accountable for what's unpaid.

 

Whistleblower Retaliation

Employees should be free from intimidation, harassment, or threats when taking a stand against wrong or unsafe workplaces.

 
C
It takes courage to fight back against those who discriminate.
Contact us to see how we can help you.