Though Wisconsin workers appreciate the protection of the law, their lives and careers can still be damaged by pressure from higher authorities to commit illegal acts. Everyone has a right to speak out against these abuses without fear of punishment, and those who assert it are often justly rewarded. Whistleblowers perform a public service by upholding what is ethical and fair, but in doing so, they also assume great risk. A whistleblower employee in Wisconsin can be protected under various circumstances, no matter the area of litigation.
Recently, the large technology outsourcing company, Infosys, was brought to justice for committing fraud. The company is paying $34 million after federal prosecutors found them guilty of committing “systematic visa fraud and abuse.” According to court records, the company brought temporary workers illegally from India to work in American businesses.
The case lasted over two years, and many fraudulent acts surfaced as a result of litigation. The prosecution has been a long time coming for the American employee and whistleblower who reported observing repeat violations of visa fraud and was shorted money due to his accusations. Although the total payout is unknown, the attorneys on his case foresee that he may receive over $5 million for his efforts.
Defending whistleblowers’ rights in the face of retaliation is just one aspect of the litigation involved in such a case. There are now even more whistleblower laws in place today to protect individual rights, such as the Whistleblower Protection Act, the False Claims Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. If a Wisconsin employee has witnessed unethical practices in the workplace, there are steps that can be taken to protect the individual’s rights and take action.
Source: The New York Times, Indian Tech Giant Said to Reach Settlement on U.S. Visa Fraud Claims, Julia Preston, Oct. 29, 2013
