Whistleblower Protections You Need to Know
Individuals who uncover information regarding securities violations of any kind, but especially those who discover fraud within the workplace, are often hesitant to report their findings to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) due to fear of retaliation.
Fortunately, there are laws in place to protect whistleblowers who report tips both internally and to the SEC. Continue reading to learn more about the whistleblower protections you need to know if you are preparing to become a whistleblower.
The Dodd-Frank Act
The Dodd-Frank Act includes provisions that are meant to protect whistleblowers from being retaliated against. When an employee, for example, uncovers information relating to any type of securities violation and proceeds to report this information to the SEC, their employer may decide to terminate their employment.
This is just one type of retaliation and if your employer retaliates against you, you may be able to hold them accountable.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The SEC does not require that you report your tips to your company’s internal compliance program before reporting to the SEC, but the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires your employer provide you with the opportunity to report tips internally while remaining anonymous.
Filing a Lawsuit for Retaliation
Any time you are retaliated against for blowing the whistle, you may have the opportunity to bring your employer to justice. When you file a lawsuit for retaliation, you may be able to obtain financial compensation for what your employer put you through.
Losses might include double back pay, reinstatement into your former position, damage to your earning capacity, and emotional distress, to name a few.
Contact an SEC Whistleblower Lawyer
If you would like additional information regarding identity protection as a whistleblower, or if you believe you have been retaliated against for blowing the whistle, reach out to a respected SEC whistleblower lawyer at Meissner Associates.
You can give our office a call at 1-866-764-3100 or contact us via the quick contact form at the bottom of the page when you are ready to confidentially discuss the details of your case.