Are there whistleblower protections for contractors?

Yes, California has whistleblower protections for contractors. State law protects employees and contractors who make a good faith report of alleged misconduct and retaliation by their employer. The California Whistleblower Protection Act of 1999 provides civil action remedies for violations of the law. In addition, California has adopted statutes that protect contractors from being retaliated against for disclosing violations of any state or federal laws. The law also provides contractors protection for disclosing information about actual or suspected improper governmental activities. This includes violations of state law, abuse of authority, gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, or an abuse of the public trust. Contractors should understand the law and their legal rights if they choose to make a whistleblower report. In most cases, the employee must be reporting the alleged improper activity in good faith and with sound evidence to be protected by the law. Contractors should keep in mind that they may face legal consequences if they make a false, malicious, or frivolous report. Filing a false report is considered a criminal act and a violation of the whistleblower law. It is also important to note that employers may still take action against contractors for disclosing personnel information or trade secrets that are not related to a protected activity.

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