Are there whistleblower protections for government employees?

Yes, Virginia government employees are protected under Whistleblower Law. This law protects employees who report fraud, waste, or abuse by their employer. Specifically, the law prohibits retaliation against the employee for reporting the alleged wrongdoing. The state defines retaliation as any adverse action taken against an employee for reporting suspected unlawful activity, such as demotion, termination, suspension, or decreased pay. The law specifically provides protection for public employees and employees of private employers with 15 or more employees. Under the law, an employee may file a complaint with the Virginia Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) if they believe they have been retaliated against for reporting unlawful activity or have knowledge of someone who has. DHRM is responsible for investigating these claims and determining if retaliation took place. If the complaint is found to be valid, DHRM will work with the employer to come up with a corrective action plan that could include reprimands, re-instatement of the employee, salary adjustments, or other compensatory damages. In addition, employees in Virginia have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the employer within one year of the alleged retaliatory action. This means that an employee may seek damages, including back wages, benefits, and attorneys’ fees that they may have lost due to the alleged retaliatory action. The court may also order a reinstatement of the employee to the same or a similar position. Ultimately, the Whistleblower Law in Virginia provides protections for government employees who report illegal activity by their employer. If an employee feels they have been retaliated against for doing so, they have the right to file a complaint with the DHRM or take the matter to court.

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