A person has the right to report wrongdoing that is happening in a Florida workplace. Fraud and other deceptive or illegal practices are unacceptable, but employees may fear what will happen to them if they speak out. There are laws that protect whistleblowers from retaliation from their employers, and it may be appropriate for an employee to take legal action if he or she experiences mistreatment.
Fraud against the federal government is one reason why an employee may blow the whistle on his or her employer. A worker can file a specific type of lawsuit, called a qui tam lawsuit, on behalf of the federal government against the employer. If the lawsuit is successful, the whistleblower would be eligible for a portion of the judgment. Qui tam lawsuits are often the result of things such as Medicare fraud, defense contractor fraud or Medicaid fraud.
Retaliation against employees can come in many forms. Sometimes, an employer may outright terminate an employee, but it can also happen in the form of demotion, harassment, transfer and mistreatment in other ways. Employees who experience do not have to remain silent. They are protected against retaliation in any form.
A whistleblower may find it beneficial to speak with an experienced employment law attorney regarding his or her legal options regarding a qui tam lawsuit. The process and procedures associated with these cases can be complex, but a Florida employee does not have to navigate these matters alone. Before moving forward, an employee may want seek an explanation of his or her rights.