Whistleblower Retaliation
It is against the law for an employer to retaliate against employees who blow the whistle. We have extensive experience representing private and public employees who have suffered wrongful termination or other adverse employment action from blowing the whistle on an employer’s illegal activity.
Importantly, there are many federal and state laws intended to protect whistleblowers. Many of these laws have short and strict time deadlines for action. Therefore, if you are the victim of whistleblower retaliation, it is imperative that you seek legal counsel immediately.
Generally, in Florida, an employer may not take any retaliatory personnel action against an employee because the employee has:
(1) Disclosed, or threatened to disclose, to any appropriate governmental agency, under oath, in writing, an activity, policy, or practice of the employer that is in violation of a law, rule, or regulation. However, this subsection does not apply unless the employee has, in writing, brought the activity, policy, or practice to the attention of a supervisor or the employer and has afforded the employer a reasonable opportunity to correct the activity, policy, or practice.
(2) Provided information to, or testified before, any appropriate governmental agency, person, or entity conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry into an alleged violation of a law, rule, or regulation by the employer.
(3) Objected to, or refused to participate in, any activity, policy, or practice of the employer which is in violation of a law, rule, or regulation.
An employee who prevails in a whistleblower lawsuit may be entitled to compensation for their economic damages, which may include back wages and loss of future earnings, and may also be entitled to compensation for emotional pain and suffering. Also, under the Florida private Whistleblower Act, the court may require that the losing party pay the prevailing party’s attorneys fees and certain litigation costs.
Retaliatory employment actions less severe than firings are also illegal. Demotions, wage reductions, suspensions, reductions in benefits, bad-faith decisions concerning transfers and denials of raises and promotions are also illegal forms of whistleblower retaliation. We provide legal representation in cases involving whistleblower retaliation. If you desire additional information, call us to arrange for a confidential consultation or to have us evaluate your case.
At Weldon & Rothman, PL, our attorneys often handle whistleblower cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not owe us for attorneys’ fees unless we make a financial recovery on your case by settlement or judgment. We pride ourselves on our service to and our exclusive focus on Southwest Florida: Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Bonita Springs, Estero, Marco Island, Immokalee, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, North Port, Bradenton, Collier County, Lee County, Charlotte County, Manatee County, and Sarasota County. We have convenient offices in Naples, Florida, Ft. Myers, Florida, and Sarasota, Florida. We concentrate all of our efforts on serving and advocating for the people of Southwest Florida. This means that your case will be handled by a local employment lawyer who is available to meet with you in person, and who is familiar with the area’s legal community.
We appreciate the trust you have shown in our law firm. Let us help you achieve the justice you deserve. Please call us today for an initial consultation.