Are there laws that protect whistleblowers who are retaliated against because they have reported wrongdoing?

Whistleblower Questions , ,

Yes. Federal and State laws exist that provide whistleblower protections.

Whistleblower or Retaliation
Statute		 Legal Citation Statute of
Limitations		 Intake Agency or Judicial
Forum
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) 29 U.S.C. § 623(d) 180-300 days EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in federal court
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 42 U.S.C. § 12203(a)
29 C.F.R. Part 1640		 180-300 days EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in federal court
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a) 180-300 days EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in federal court
Clayton Act (antitrust) 15 U.S.C. § 15(a) 4 yrs-see 15
USC § 15(b)		 Federal District Court, generally no standing recognized for employees
Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C. § 7622
29 C.F.R. Part 24		 30 days DOL/OSHA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“Super Fund”) 42 U.S.C. § 9610
29 C.F.R. Part 24		 30 days DOL/OSHA
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a), 1140 Earlier of 6 years after (a) the date of the last action which constituted a part of the breach or violation or (b) in the case of an omission, the latest date on which the fiduciary duty could have cured the breach or violation or 3 years after the earliest date on which the plaintiff had actual knowledge of the breach or violation  Federal District Court

Energy Reorganization Act 		 42 U.S.C. § 5851
29 C.F.R. Part 24		 180 days DOL/OSHA
Equal Pay Act 29 U.S.C. § 206(d) 2 yrs; 3 yrs
if willful violation		 DOL or Federal District Court
Fair Labor Standards Act (wage & hour, child labor, minimum wage, overtime) 29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3)
29 C.F.R. Part 783		 2 yrs; 3 yrs if
willful violation		 DOL, Federal District Court, or state court
False Claims Act 31 U.S.C. § 3730(h) See most applicable state law for statute of limitations Federal District Court
Family and Medical Leave Act [“FMLA”] 29 U.S.C. § 2615 2 yrs; 3 yrs if
willful violation		 DOL, Federal District Court, or state court
National Labor Relations Act 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(4) 6 months NLRB
Occupational Safety and Health Act 29 U.S.C. § 660(c)
29 C.F.R. Part 1977
(“Part 11(c)”)		 30 days DOL/OSHA-no private cause of action
Safe Drinking Water Act 42 U.S.C. § 300j-9 30 days DOL/OSHA
Sarbanes Oxley Act 18 U.S.C. § 1514A 180 days DOL/OSHA
Solid Waste Disposal Act 42 U.S.C. § 6971
29 C.F.R. Part 24		 30 days DOL/OSHA
Toxic Substances
Control Act		 15 U.S.C. § 2622
29 C.F.R. Part 24		 30 days DOL/OSHA