Exposing corporate misconduct is a matter of moral principle, as it usually originates from an intention to protect the public, the taxpayers, and the integrity of the workplace. Corporate misconduct can take many forms, from financial fraud and tax evasion to environmental violations and healthcare scams.
In Florida, employees are protected by a law designed to ensure that if you “blow the whistle” on an employer’s illegal activity, they cannot legally retaliate against you.
What counts as corporate misconduct?
Misconduct usually involves a violation of a law, rule, or regulation. Common examples include:
- Medicare/Medicaid fraud: Billing for services never rendered.
- Securities fraud: Misleading investors or falsifying financial statements.
- Safety violations: Ignoring OSHA standards that put workers or the local community at risk.
- Wage theft: Forcing employees to work off the clock or misclassifying them to avoid paying benefits.
A defense against retaliation
If you have exposed corporate misconduct, you might wonder if your company can fire you. Under the law, an employer may not take any adverse personnel action against an employee because that employee:
- Disclosed or threatened to disclose the activity to a government agency.
- Provided information or testified regarding the violation.
- Objected to or refused to participate in the illegal activity.
Retaliation is not always a firing. It can be a demotion, a sudden bad performance review, a pay cut, or being iced out of important meetings.
Why do you need a lawyer
Corporate legal teams are built to protect the company’s bottom line, often at the expense of the truth. If you are preparing to report misconduct, you need to move strategically. Florida law often requires employees to follow specific procedures (such as providing written notice to the employer to allow them to correct the violation) before a lawsuit can be filed. You can talk to a lawyer so they can guide you in critical steps like documenting evidence, navigate the reporting process and ensuring that if the company tries to retaliate, they are held accountable in a court of law.