Generally, yes, you should. However, you
need to be careful in
the communications that you have. Careful inquiry with trusted
co-workers is one thing. And, you certainly can and, in most
instances, probably should report to management or proper
Government authorities any
criminal wrongdoing within the company.
You should be thoughtful and plan
your reporting and the timing of the reporting. Telling your supervisor that what he is
requiring is wrong may not be very effective and may only backfire
on you. Company ombudspersons and hot-line call investigators,
moreover, often will contact the wrongdoer directly to investigate
allegations of wrongdoing, rather than inquiring through other or
more reliable sources. Be aware that even using
so-called “anonymous” hotlines can trigger retaliation—it
may actually cause it to occur. In all cases, you should document
in writing any internal
reporting that you do.
You should be very careful in any communications involving your
intentions to visit a lawyer or file a lawsuit. It is best to
actually talk with the lawyer before communicating on this topic.
Finally, for those who can bring qui tam
actions, the False Claims Act gives priority to the first
whistleblower who files a qui tam action. Idle chatter could
result in a co-worker "winning" such a "race to the courthouse."
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