If you reported something wrong at work, such as fraud, safety violations, or illegal activity, and your employer punished you for it, you may have legal protection.. At Kennedy Law, we represent employees across Western Pennsylvania who have been retaliated against for doing the right thing. Attorney Nicholas Kennedy handles every case personally, giving you direct access to an experienced employment attorney.
A whistleblower is someone who reports waste and/or illegal, unethical, or unsafe conduct, either within their organization or to an outside authority. You do not have to make a report to a government agency to qualify. Reporting misconduct internally to a supervisor or HR department may also be protected under Pennsylvania law.
Whistleblower claims arise when an employer retaliates against an employee for making a protected report. Retaliation does not always mean termination. Employers sometimes respond in quieter, harder-to-see ways: a sudden demotion, a shift to undesirable assignments, exclusion from meetings, negative performance reviews that never existed before, or a work environment that becomes hostile enough to force you out.
Common forms of retaliation that whistleblowers experience include:
Timing matters in retaliation cases. Call today.
Pennsylvania has specific statutory protections for employees who report wrongdoing.
Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law — Act 169 of 1978 – Pennsylvania’s Whistleblower Law protects employees of public bodies and recipients of public funds who report a violation of law, waste, or wrongdoing. If you work for a government employer, a public school, or an organization that receives state or federal funding, this law may apply to your situation.
Employees who prevail in whistleblower retaliation claims may be entitled to a range of remedies, depending on the applicable law and the facts of the case. Potential outcomes include:
Every case is different, and outcomes depend on the specific facts and the strength of the evidence. Kennedy Law will give you an honest picture of what your case may be worth, not inflated promises.
Ready to talk? Call (412) 212-6465 or submit a quick form.
Whistleblower retaliation cases demand an attorney who understands the stakes and takes them seriously. At Kennedy Law, Mr. Kennedy takes on a deliberately limited caseload that ensures each case gets the attention it deserves.
Mr. Kennedy’s experience spans state and federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. If you are facing retaliation for doing the right thing, Kennedy Law is built to be in your corner.
Learn more about Mr. Kennedy — Attorney Bio
Not necessarily. In many cases, reporting misconduct internally to a supervisor, HR department, or compliance officer, may qualify as a protected activity under Pennsylvania law. Whether your internal report is protected depends on what you reported. An employment attorney can help you evaluate your specific situation.
Retaliation against a whistleblower is unlawful under both Pennsylvania law in most circumstances. If you were terminated, demoted, or otherwise punished after making a protected report, you may have a viable legal claim. The key factors are what you reported, to whom, and the timing of the employer’s response.
This depends on the type of complaint and where it is filed. Some administrative processes offer a degree of confidentiality during the investigation phase. Kennedy Law will walk you through what to expect in your specific situation so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.
If you reported wrongdoing or waste at work and your employer made your life harder because of it, do not wait. Deadlines apply, and the sooner you act, the more options you may have.
Call Kennedy Law at (412) 212-6465 or contact us online.
Explore related practice areas: Retaliation Claims | Employment Law
