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You deserve to work for an employer that maintains the highest standards of ethics and accountability. Some corporations do not adhere to these principles and instead engage in unethical or illegal business practices. If you know or suspect that your boss or company is defrauding the federal or state government, you have the power to act as a whistleblower by reporting such behavior.

While it can be intimidating to oppose a large corporation, the law protects employees from adverse actions in response to reporting misconduct. If your company mistreats you after you do what is right, a Minneapolis fraud retaliation lawyer from Wanta Thome can help you. Call our award-winning workplace retaliation attorneys to discuss your situation and get advice about your legal options for seeking a resolution.

When Should Employees Report Wrongdoing?

Many companies have procedures in place for employees who are witnesses or victims of wrongdoing to report it directly to human resources departments. Wrongdoing can include sexual harassment, discrimination, and other hostile workplace violations. Corporations generally take this misconduct seriously, invite employees to report it, and deal with it internally.

Companies also encourage employees to report illegal, wasteful, or fraudulent business activities. These situations can be more complicated because they involve government agencies. For example, the Securities and Exchange Commission can investigate securities trading violations, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration can take action against companies that put their workers in danger. Health care fraud is a significant issue because doctors and hospitals waste millions of dollars by falsely billing Medicare and Medicaid.

Investigations of wrongdoing are bad for business and public reputation, so some bosses and top executives unfairly punish employees for speaking up. Retaliating against you for reporting fraudulent activities is illegal. Call our experienced Minneapolis legal team to help you fight back.

Understanding Retaliation Protections for Whistleblowers

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Minnesota Whistleblower Act, and other laws protect individuals who report suspected violations. The laws protect the confidentiality of those individuals by prohibiting government agencies from revealing their identities. The most important protection is against retaliation. Generally speaking, the laws prohibit employers from taking adverse actions against a whistleblower. These can include:

• Firing the employee
• Passing them over for a promotion
• Demoting the whistleblower or transferring them to another position
• Changing their work hours or job duties suddenly
• Bullying the employee or writing untrue negative performance reviews about them

Having legal representation is essential for holding Minneapolis corporations accountable for taking retaliatory actions against whistleblowers.

When your employer mistreats you for reporting fraud, various remedies are available. Reinstatement in your old job with the same salary is the most common remedy, but compensatory damages for back pay and front pay can be more appropriate. The right solution depends on your situation and goals.

Call Our Minneapolis Attorneys if Your Employer Mistreated You for Reporting Fraud

If your employer unfairly punished you for being a whistleblower, it’s important to act quickly. The longer you wait, the more your boss will take advantage of you.

A Minneapolis fraud retaliation lawyer from our firm can explain your legal options for filing a claim. Contact Wanta Thome Employment Lawyers today for an initial consultation with a member of our team.