San Francisco Retaliation & Whistleblowing Attorney

Employees faced with unlawful conduct in the workplace face a dilemma: you want to speak up to put an end to the illegal treatment but fear that the employer may retaliate. In employment matters, a “whistleblower” is a person who alerts others to illegal or unethical conduct, much like a referee blowing the whistle after an athlete breaks the rules in a game. When a whistleblower steps forward to report misconduct, they often face negative consequences from their employer. These consequences are known as retaliation, and they are often illegal.

At the Law Offices of Alan F. Cohen, we believe that whistleblowers deserve to be rewarded, not punished, for doing the right thing. When employees are treated unfairly for speaking up about misconduct, we help them hold their employers accountable. 

If you are dealing with retaliation after reporting misconduct in the workplace, you may be able to take legal action against your employer. Call our San Francisco employment law attorney today for a free consultation.

Reporting Employer Misconduct in San Francisco

Employees have a right to workplaces that are clean, safe, and ethical. If they are not, the employer should face the consequences, not the employee who reports the problem. Whistleblowers are protected from retaliation for reporting misconduct inside an organization, such as filing a complaint with human resources, and reporting to outside entities like government regulators. It is against the law for employers to retaliate because an employee refuses to participate in something illegal. Even if an employer did not actually engage in illegal activity, whistleblowers are still protected against retaliation as long as they reasonably believed that the employer was breaking the law.

Any misconduct by an employer in San Francisco should be reported to the appropriate authorities. Some of the most common types of employer misconduct include:

• Evading taxes or fees
• Discriminating in the workplace
• Sexual harassment
• Violating industry regulations
• Failing to provide meal and rest breaks
• Violating health and safety laws
• Failing to pay overtime wages

Identifying Retaliation in the Workplace

Retaliation happens when an employee faces negative consequences for reporting misconduct. It can take on many different forms. Some common examples of retaliation are:

• Terminating or demoting an employee
• Assigning unfavorable job duties 
• Reductions in hours or pay
• Altering scheduling in a negative way
• Harassing or threatening an employee
• Holding an employee to a different standard than their peers
• Unreasonable demands or workloads

Proving that these adverse actions were directly related to whistleblowing can be challenging, but with the help of a skilled attorney, it is possible to seek justice.

Our San Francisco Employment Attorney Can Help

Employees should never have to tolerate threats, harassment, or negative impacts on their careers for simply doing what is right. When employers use retaliation to punish whistleblowers for speaking out about misconduct, they can face serious penalties.

The Law Offices of Alan F. Cohen have been helping the people of San Francisco keep workplaces clean, safe, and ethical for more than twenty years. We help employees who have been wronged by an employer to set the record straight. 

If you believe you are the victim of unlawful retaliation, contact us today for your free initial consultation with a quality San Francisco employment lawyer. We look forward to discussing your case.