Genesee County WPA Lawyers
Whistleblowing can seem like a complex topic unless you have all the facts. Many people engage in whistleblowing activities and do not even realize it. Conversely, some people believe they have "blown the whistle" when they have not. If you obtain a personal protection order (PPO) against a co-worker and your employer fires you or retaliates against you, you may be protected under the Whistleblowers' Protection Act. If you report your employer to the IRS for not taking out payroll taxes and the employer fires you, you may be protected under the WPA. If you are a police officer investigating the mayor of your community and you employer fires you because you won't drop the investigation, you may be protected by the WPA. These are only a few examples and our experienced Genesee County whistleblower attorneys can explain it in greater detail.
At the Law Offices of Dean T. Yeotis, our attorneys have more than 40 combined years of experience educating workers about the protections they have in the workplace and the options available to them through the law. Generally, whistleblowing laws protect employees if they report suspected violations of law to a public body, such as the government or a government employee. Under the WPA, you may also be protected if you are about to report a violation of law, the employer knows you are about to make the report, and you are fired. Time and the employer's knowledge of the employees protected activity are extremely important in these types of cases so contacting the Law Offices of Dean T. Yeotis as soon as the potential for this type of claim arises can make all the difference.
What Is Actually Considered Whistleblowing?
There is a great deal of confusion about the term whistleblowing. An employee's protection under whistleblowing statutes is a direct extension of who he or she complains to. If you work for a large company and report to an internal office that someone is committing fraud, that is not considered whistleblowing. If you contact the attorney general's office with the same complaint, that is whistleblowing. You have to report or be about to report the violation to a public body in order to be protected under the WPA.
Additionally, the suspected violation must be of an actual law and not simply immoral or unfair. If the complaint is "They violated the ethical rules by engaging in this type of business practices," that is most likely not whistleblowing. It is wise to contact an experienced attorney so we can explain your options regarding your specific situation.
Contact Our Firm
If you have questions regarding whistleblowing in Michigan, contact the Law Offices of Dean T. Yeotis by calling 888-776-7579 or by completing the contact form on this website. Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but we are available for evening or weekend appointments if necessary. We offer free phone or e-mail consultations.