There are millions of people who work in the health care industry. From nurses to doctors to finance professionals, these people take their job seriously.
There is a variety of federal and state laws in place to protect employees against retaliation. Furthermore, these laws are meant to protect those who report violations associated with public health, safety and financial wrongdoing.
For example, the Occupational Safety & Health Act was created to protect workers from retaliation for filing a complaint with their employer or a government agency regarding unsafe work conditions.
If you report your company for any reason, such as an unsafe working condition at a hospital, you have the right to do so with a clear mind. Your employer is not permitted to retaliate against you in any way, such as a demotion or termination.
To go along with federal laws, many states also have whistleblower protection laws to keep workers safe.
For instance, Florida Statutes § 448.102 prohibits an employer from retaliating against a worker who has disclosed or wants to disclose to a government agency a violation of the law.
It may not be common, but health care workers could come across a dangerous situation or wrongdoing that needs attention. In this case, the person should not be afraid to speak up.
If you work in the health care industry, you have the right to do whatever it takes to keep patients healthy and ensure that no wrongdoing takes place within your company. In the event of whistleblower retaliation, you should learn more about the federal and state laws that protect your employment.
Source: National Nurses United, “Whistleblower Protection Laws for Healthcare Workers,” accessed Nov. 18, 2015
