Chapter 6Whistleblower Laws |
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The material in this e-course is provided for informational purposes only. Nothing in this email should be construed as legal advice. Before you act on any of the material in this guide, the authors STRONGLY urge you to seek legal counsel. |
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Up to this point, this e-course has laid out options for how to maximize the opportunity to disclose the truth while minimizing the risks to yourself and your career. But what if the worst occurs? What if maintaining your anonymity is impossible because you made an official disclosure that was easily traced back to you, or your identity was exposed in some other way? What if your disclosure is not protected by law? What kind of protections exist if you face retaliation in your workplace after making a disclosure? Regarding these questions, the good news is that Congress and the executive branch have strengthened whistleblower rights and protections for federal employees and contractors. But current laws still have many considerable flaws—some federal sector employees, for example, still lack whistleblower protections entirely. Chapter 6 of our survival guide, Caught Between Conscience and Career, addresses these protections, going into granular detail on the laws covering:
The chapter also addresses key questions you may have if you file a retaliation complaint, how the Whistleblower Protection Act affects these questions, and how laws and regulations protect—or don't protect—federal sector employees differently. Due to the highly contextual and nuanced nature of this information, we will not be addressing the nitty-gritty of these protections here. If learning more about the law is of interest to you, we recommend you read the chapter in full to get the most comprehensive picture of the current legal landscape—but be aware that none of that information is a substitute for legal advice. |
Know your rights and resources |
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In general, before deciding to blow the whistle, your best bet is to have realistic expectations, know your rights, and speak with a knowledgeable whistleblower law attorney before moving forward. If you would like a quick starting point for understanding what's on the books for federal sector employee protections—either in making a disclosure or filing a complaint of retaliation—try taking our online interactive quiz, Know Your Rights. |
Legal and advocacy resources |
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We cannot stress enough that there is no substitute for speaking to an experienced, qualified attorney about the specifics of your case. The Project On Government Oversight does not provide legal representation. We do, however, maintain a list of legal and advocacy resources for whistleblowers—including law firms with experience working with whistleblowers, federal employees, or labor cases—that may aid you in your search. |
While this e-course has been full of warnings about the dangers of blowing the whistle, it should not dissuade you from following your conscience. This e-course and the expertise, considerations, and resources provided within are meant to serve as a roadmap to help you address any wrongdoing you may witness in the course of your career.
Every civil servant should know the risks involved in whistleblowing and how to manage those risks effectively. If you know someone who could benefit from this e-course, consider sharing our survival guide, Caught between Conscience and Career, or forwarding this email—though we advise you to do so using your personal email and personal devices, rather than using anything issued to you through work, including .gov, .mil, or fed.us email addresses.
Remember: the viability of our democracy depends largely on the bravery of whistleblowers willing to challenge abuses of power by speaking out about government wrongdoing.
This is just the tip of the iceberg on laws protecting whistleblowers. For more detail on the law, consult a lawyer and read our full survival guide, Caught Between Conscience and Career. Jump into Chapter 6 now.
Material for this e-course is pulled from Caught Between Conscience and Career, joint effort of the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), the Government Accountability Project (GAP), and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibiltiy (PEER).
The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to serve the public or silences those who report wrongdoing.
We champion reforms to achieve a more effective, ethical, and accountable federal government that safeguards constitutional principles.
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