If you are witnessing fraud by your employer, you may be ambivalent about speaking out against it. After all, you have a good stable, well-paying job, and these types of jobs don’t grow on trees. Even if you are not fired for speaking out, you could be marginalized and made to feel miserable for your purported transgression.
However, federal law protects people like you; better known as whistleblowers. But before becoming a whistleblower and possibly participating in a False Claims Act case, you may have a number of questions. This post will highlight a few common questions whistleblowers may have.
How do I know if my employer intended to defraud the government? – When you first find out that something is amiss, you may not specifically know if your employer specifically intended to defraud the government. In fact, the purported acts may have to be investigated further in order to make this determination. Nevertheless, a false claim act case can be based on a company’s disregard for reporting rules.
What if I contributed to the fraud? – You may be ambivalent about coming forward because you may have been part of the fraud. However, this does not prohibit you from being a whistleblower. An experienced attorney can help explain what your liability, if any, may be.
Will my employer fire me for exposing fraud? – Employers are prohibited by federal law from firing an employee who initiates or participates in a whistleblower suit. So while an employer may threaten your employment in trying to silence you, there is legal recourse in the event your employment is terminated.