Good Fences And Not So Good Neighbors: Property Law 101

What Can You Do To Protect Yourself If You Are A Whistleblower?

16 February 2017 by Hunter Moore

Whistleblowers are protected by law, but exposing corporate fraud could put them at risk. Even though there are laws in place that offer protection, you could still face many challenges. If you are planning to expose financial corruption, here are some tips for protecting yourself.  

Document Everything

One of the most important steps you can take is to document everything. Each finding should be thoroughly documented, copied, and secured. Do not rely solely on physical copies. You also should consider saving the documentation with an online cloud storage service.  

The physical copies of the findings need to be stored away from the company and in a location that is not accessible to anyone but you. A safe deposit box at your local bank is a good place to keep the documents.  

Keep a Log

You need to keep a day-to-day log detailing any interactions that you have with upper management at the company. In many instances, management will be appreciative of fraud being brought to their attention. However, there are some people who might not agree with your decision and seek to punish you for it.  

Although it is very unlikely that you will be physically harmed for whistleblowing, you could face other actions. For instance, you could receive an unfair and bad employee review or be subjected to a hostile work environment.  

Documenting every action is important because you might be able to take legal action against anyone who seeks retribution because of your actions. You can also use the documentation to support a complaint to the federal government, if necessary.

Seek Legal Help

Due to the seriousness of the situation, it is important that you have someone on your side who understands whistleblower laws. If you need to take additional steps to protect yourself, the lawyer will know what you need to do.  

The lawyer can also help you take action if you face retribution for your actions. For instance, the whistleblower lawyer can help you file a claim with the federal government and follow up to ensure that your complaint is fairly assessed. In addition to this, the lawyer can file a lawsuit against your employer and any other people who have contributed to a hostile work environment.  

Fear of the consequences should never deter you from doing what is right. If you are aware of fraudulent activities at your place of employment, you can speak out and work with your lawyer to protect yourself from retaliation. 

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