The term “whistleblower” elicits varying reactions from different people. Some individuals applaud a whistleblower for speaking up about an injustice he or she may have witnessed at an organization. However, others view the person as a betrayer. Either way, this individual legally cannot be punished for uncovering unfavorable information about a company; however, this situation is common nationwide, and when it occurs, the mistreated employee has the right to seek legal recourse by filing a claim against the employer in Wisconsin.
Employer retaliation is the most common complaint among workers nationwide who said they spoke up about being mistreated in the workplace. In fact, although other types of workplace discrimination claims decreased in 2013, the number of retaliation-related claims actually went up. These types of claims constitute 41 percent of those made against companies throughout the united States.
Race discrimination claims are the second most commonly filed complaint in America. Claims related to retaliation and discrimination often increase during periods of recession. This is because companies usually are laying off employees when the economy is struggling.
A company in Wisconsin is not allowed to retaliate against a worker who has chosen to be a whistleblower, according to federal law. If the employer does end up mistreating the worker, such as by demoting or even terminating the individual, the wronged employee reserves the right to file a suit against the company. Thoroughly understanding what specific facts must be proved true in such a situation can help an employee to prevail in this type of case. Financial relief for damages resulting from the retaliation incident may be the outcome of a successfully fought suit.
Source: Phoenix Business Journal, Retaliation claims with the EEOC on the rise in Arizona, nationwide, Mike Sunnucks, Feb. 7, 2014
