Answering Whistleblower Retaliation Questions

Employees who report workplace misconduct may be protected by federal and state law. The statutory protections can apply even where there is no violation of law, so long as the employee reasonably believes a violation of law has occurred. There may also be whistleblower protections available for reporting dangerous or improper conduct, even if not illegal.

Most whistleblower statutes prohibit employers from firing, demoting, or otherwise discriminating against employees who “blow the whistle.” Federal laws protecting whistleblowers focus on specific types of unlawful activity, while Ohio provides general statutory whistleblower protection to employees, but only when the technical reporting requirements of the statute are met.

Ohio requirements include that the activity subject of the whistleblowing be reported in writing and that the person making the report reasonably believes the activity is illegal and a felony, or that the activity pose a serious threat to public health of safety.

Contact Us For Skilled Employment Law Representation

If you have questions about whistleblower protection, please call Folkerth + Routh LLC at 937-260-4202. You may also contact us online. We have extensive experience representing employers and individuals involving whistleblowing issues. We are here to provide practical, cost effective legal advice and guidance.

Whistleblowing Laws:

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
• Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) 15 U.S.C. § 2651
• Clean Air Act (CAA) 42 U.S.C. Chapter 85A; 42 U.S.C. § 7622, et seq.
• Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA a/k/a Superfund) 42 U.S.C. § 9610
• Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), 12 U.S.C. § 5567, et seq.
• Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) 15 U.S.C. § 2087, et seq.
• Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1987 10 U.S.C. § 2409(a)
• Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), 15 U.S.C. § 78u-6
• Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (ERA) 42 U.S.C. § 5851
• FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FDA Modernization Act) 21 U.S.C. § 399d
• Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (FMSHA) 21 U.S.C. § 399d(b)(4)(B); 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(1)
• Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) 30 U.S.C. § 815(c)(2); 30 U.S.C. § 816; 49 U.S.C. § 42121
• Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) 49 U.S.C. § 20109
• International Safe Container Act (ISCA) 46 U.S.C. § 80507
• Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) 33 U.S.C. § 948a
• Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSAWPA) 29 U.S.C. § 1855
• Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) 49 U.S.C. § 30171
• National Transit Systems Security Act (NTSSA) 29 U.S.C. § 160
• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) 29 U.S.C. § 660(c)(2)
• Pipeline Safety Improvement Act (PSIA) 15 U.S.C. § 2087
• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 42 U.S.C. § 300j-9
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) 18 U.S.C. § 1514A
• Seaman’s Protection Act (SPA) 46 U.S.C. § 2114
• Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) 42 U.S.C. § 6971
• Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) 30 U.S.C. § 1293
• Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) 49 U.S.C. § 31105
• Title VII Retaliation 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3
• Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 15 U.S.C. § 2622
• Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act of the 21st Century (AIR21) 49 U.S.C. § 42121
• Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) 5 U.S.C. § 1214
• Whistleblower Protection Act R.C. § 4113.52
• Workers Compensation Retaliation R.C. § 4123.90