Who Can Be a Whistleblower?

An employee, contractor, or agent can be a whistleblower. Understanding who can be a whistleblower and the protections that whistleblowers have can help you raise the alarm about illegal activities happening at your place of work.

To get the legal advice and advocacy you need to blow the whistle without fear of retaliation from your employer, you’ll want to work with a skilled Baltimore whistleblower lawyer. Let’s take a closer look at who can be a whistleblower and how an attorney can help.

Parties Who Can Be a Whistleblower

If you’ve become aware of unlawful activities happening at your place of work, you might want to file a complaint but may not be sure about who can be a whistleblower. To answer this question, it’s important to consider the laws that protect whistleblowing. 

The False Claims Act (FCA) provides protections for individuals who report unlawful practices at their workplace. This law prohibits employers from taking adverse employment actions, such as discharge, demotion, and several other actions, against employees who blow the whistle on illegal activities occurring at the workplace.

Under the FCA, whistleblower protections apply to:

• Employees: Both full-time and part-time workers who report fraud within their organization are covered by the FCA.
• Contractors and Agents: Independent contractors (1099 workers) and agents of a company can also be protected by the FCA if they disclose fraudulent activity.
• Associated Individuals: In some cases, FCA protections extend to spouses, family members, or close associates of whistleblowers if they face retaliation due to the whistleblower’s actions.

If you are aware of fraudulent activities at your place of work and are protected by the FCA, reach out to a whistleblower attorney today to learn more about filing a complaint. A lawyer can guide you through the process and work hard to protect your rights and best interests throughout the process. 

Types of Fraudulent Practices You Can Report Under the FCA

Now that you know who can be a whistleblower, you’re probably wondering which types of illegal and fraudulent practices you can report under the FCA. A dedicated whistleblower lawyer can help you sound the alarm on any of the following practices:

• Medical fraud: Under the FCA, you can report practices like billing for services that were not provided, billing for procedures that are more expensive than those performed, charging separately for procedures that should be bundled, and several other fraudulent acts.
• Government fraud: An attorney can help you blow the whistle on many types of government fraud, not limited to violations of wage discrimination laws, defective pricing, cross-charging, and improper allocation of costs.
• PPP fraud: Whistleblower laws also protect your right to report acts of PPP fraud, such as misuse of funds, using a shell company or fake identity to apply, loan stacking, and a handful of other fraudulent activities. 

These are just a few examples of the types of fraud you can file a complaint about under the FCA. If you are aware of fraudulent workplace practices and aren’t sure whether or not reporting them would be protected by the FCA, reach out to a skilled attorney today.

What Adverse Actions Are Whistleblowers Protected From?

If you are protected from retaliation under whistleblower protection laws, you can blow the whistle on fraudulent practices at your job without fear of your employer retaliating against you. The law protects you from several forms of employment retaliation, including:

• Discharge
• Demotion
• Suspension
• Threats
• Harassment

How a Whistleblower Attorney Can Protect Your Rights

Blowing the whistle on fraudulent practices in your workplace can be an intimidating and complicated process. Fortunately, a dedicated attorney can guide you through the process, protect your rights, and work hard to make your report meaningful. 

Here’s what a lawyer can do to help you:

• Evaluate your case: An attorney can offer further advice on who can be a whistleblower and assess if your whistleblower claim qualifies for protection under the False Claims Act.
• Ensure Legal Protections: Your lawyer can also provide the counsel and advocacy you need to shield yourself from retaliation like termination, demotion, or harassment.
• Guide You Through Reporting: When you hire an attorney, you’ll also get assistance with filing complaints with government agencies or courts.
• Maximize Potential Rewards: In some cases, whistleblowers receive monetary rewards for speaking out. Your attorney can ensure you receive the highest possible compensation for reporting fraud.

These are only a few of the measures your lawyer will take to protect your rights, make your report as strong and well-supported as possible, and help you get the reward you deserve. Reach out to a whistleblower law firm today to learn more about who can be a whistleblower and how a lawyer can help you report fraud. 

Learn More About Who Can Be a Whistleblower by Scheduling a Free Consultation

Reporting fraudulent workplace practices can seem like a daunting task. At Keilty Bonadio, we understand that you might be concerned about your career and livelihood when filing a complaint. That’s why our team is here to guide you through the whistleblower process and protect your rights at every step of the way.

We have over 50 years of combined experience handling cases like yours, so we have the utmost confidence that we can help you report fraud successfully and without retaliation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Whistleblower lawyer in Annapolis.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.