A whistleblower report form is used to report improper government action, but not personal matters like harassment. Employers cannot retaliate against whistleblowers and witnesses are often protected. Lawyers can assist employees in filling out the form.
A whistleblower report form is used to report improper government action by an employer or other employee. It is commonly used by employees to report violations of regional laws they witness in the workplace, and many jurisdictions have laws such as the Whistleblower Protection Act to protect them. The form is often not used to report violations for which other remedies are available and which are beyond the purview of whistleblower laws. For example, an employee may not use a form to report employer discrimination or harassment. Such issues are often addressed by filing complaints with the applicable regulatory agency, which will often launch an investigation and hold administrative hearings.
Most regions have a reporting act to protect employees from reporting improper government actions. Government agencies make a generic whistleblower report form available to employees to comply with whistleblower laws. The whistleblower must provide his or her contact information and that of the accused public employee or official. The form also often asks for detailed information about the actions, and there are spaces for the person completing the form to write pertinent information about the situation. For example, a common question asked on forms is, “Where did the improper action occur?”
Whistleblowers must distinguish between personnel matters that are not protected by whistleblower laws and improper government actions. Some examples of improper actions are the gross waste of public funds, the alteration of scientific results and the violation of specific laws. The whistleblower report form is used to report these and similar acts. A personal matter can include sexual harassment, racial discrimination, or inappropriate verbal reprimand. Forms exist to report such behavior, but individuals often cannot use the whistleblower report form in those cases.
Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who complete and submit a whistleblower report form. Some acts of retaliation include firing or demoting an employee, discriminating against them, and threatening them. Employers who do this violate whistleblower laws and may be liable for damages. The form may also ask for the names of witnesses to confirm the allegations, and such witnesses are often protected from employer retaliation.
An employee who does not feel comfortable filling out a form on his own may in some regions obtain the assistance of a lawyer to fill it out on his behalf. For example, a whistleblower report form may require supporting documents and detailed information that could be intimidating to an employee who just wants to report violations. The employee must certify the allegations he is reporting, but the attorney can mail the form for her.
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