Whistleblower retaliation in California -- How to fight back with a lawsuit against your boss

Employment law attorney Neil Shouse explains California laws protecting whistleblowers, and how to file a lawsuit against employers who retaliate against whistleblowers.

More info at https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/labor/wr... or call 1-(877)-SUE-MY-BOSS for a free consultation.

Under California law, anyone who is classified as a whistleblower is offered protection from retaliation in the form of being fired, demoted, threatened, or otherwise punished. Whistleblowers are employees who report suspected criminal activity or rule violations to state agencies, to their bosses or supervisors, or, in the case of public employee whistleblowers, when they report violations to the public.

In most cases when an employee is retaliated against, they should first notify the California Labor & Workplace Development Agency. If the agency chooses not to pursue a case against the employer, then the whistleblower is free to immediately file a lawsuit against their employer.

In the case of retaliation for labor violations or for occupational health and safety violations, the whistleblower must report to a different state agency, the California Labor Commissioner. However for these types of whistleblower retaliation lawsuits, the employee is not required to file a complaint with the state agency first, before a lawsuit, they may choose to file a lawsuit immediately without notifying the California Labor Commissioner.

And state or government employees who are retaliated against for whistleblowing, are required to file their complaint with the State Personnel Board first, before any lawsuit can be filed.

In some cases, employees who have suffered whistleblower retaliation may be able to get their old job back, along with a restoration of any lost service credit, any missed backpay or benefits, compensatory damages for emotional distress, and they can get an expungement of any adverse employment record that resulted from the retaliation. And if the case goes to trial, the judge can award punitive damages to victims of workplace retaliation, in addition to covering legal fees.

If you or a loved one has had your rights violated by an employer, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group. We can provide a free consultation in office or by phone. We have local offices in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, Long Beach, Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and throughout California.