Whistle blower laws generally protect employees who report (“or blow the whistle on”) health, safety, environmental, or other violations committed by their employers. Because employees are usually the first to recognize wrongdoing, protecting them from reprisals encourages employees to take action so that authorities can both detect and deter violations.
Iowa Wrongful Termination
Recently, an Iowa woman who was wrongfully fired from her job after reporting the abuse of a student at an Iowa boarding school was awarded 750K in a whistle blower retaliation lawsuit.
Back in 2015, the former employee alerted the Iowa Department of Human Resources about the sexual assault of the student, which triggered an investigation of the school. Subsequently, the woman was fired from her job in an alleged act of retaliation.
The whistle blower lawsuit award appears to be just the tip of the iceberg for the now-closed school. Another lawsuit is pending in civil court accusing the defendants in the case of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, false imprisonment, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and more. If all the allegations are true, the actions of the whistle blower appear to have helped many families escape further harm.
Contact an Experienced Davenport Iowa Employer Retaliation Attorney
There are numerous federal and state whistle blower laws that protect both public and private employees who report violations of the law or other misconduct. Whistle blower laws encourage employees to act knowing the law is on their side. If you are retaliated against or terminated after reporting a problem in the workplace, it is recommended that you speak with an employment law attorney with experience with workplace retaliation and wrongful termination. Contact the Davenport Iowa whistle blower retaliation law offices of McDonald, Woodward & Carlson PC for help at 563-355-6478.