What do I do now?
Talk to a lawyer with experience dealing with whistleblowers. Most organizations have policies against retaliating against employees who report potential issues in good faith. Some types of reports may be covered by federal or state laws. A lawyer can help you figure this out and plan your next steps.
Is this an employment law issue?
In some ways, this is an employment law issue. On the other hand, depending on the nature of the issue an employee has reported, the company’s actions which precipitated the employee’s concern may involve violations of criminal or civil laws. This could include violating securities laws or SEC regulations, violating the Commodities and Futures Act or CFTC regulations, violating criminal statues such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), violating IRS laws or regulations, or a number of other substantive legal areas. You should talk with a lawyer with the breadth and depth of experience needed to understand and advise you on what to do next and how to handle or assist in a government investigation.
What to do next
You can contact one of us, of course. Another option would be to contact an organization such as Ethic Alliance (here’s a link to the Ethic Alliance website). In either event, you should speak to a lawyer immediately so that they can analyze the issues, tell you about how to obtain and preserve information, and assist you in getting the proper authorities involved, as appropriate.
Learn more about our Whistleblower practice here.
