Are there any limitations on whistleblower accusations?

In Washington, there are some limitations on what a whistleblower may accuse and report. The whistleblower law in Washington protects employees from retaliation for reporting certain types of misconduct and/or violations that the employee reasonably believes are present in the workplace. The law does not protect employees from reporting every possible violation. In general, the law protects employees who report violations of laws that relate to the welfare of the public. These include violations of health and safety laws, as well as violations of civil rights and other violations of public policy. The law also protects employees from reporting violations of the laws that govern the employer’s operation, such as laws that pertain to minimum wage and overtime. The law does not protect whistleblowers who report violations of general employee policies and procedures, such as drug testing policies or performance standards. It also does not protect whistleblowers who report violations of private contracts or agreements between the employer and employee. Lastly, Washington’s whistleblower law does not protect whistleblowers who report suspicions of fraudulent activity or criminal activity if it does not specifically relate to public welfare. In sum, Washington’s Whistleblower law protects employees who report violations of laws that relate to the welfare of the public, but there are some limitations on the types of violations that can be reported. It is important to be aware of these limitations when considering whether to file a whistleblower report.

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Are there any limitations on whistleblower accusations?

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