This CLE webinar will provide employment counsel with an overview of recent decisions brought in wrongful termination and retaliation claims by former employees in Ohio, California, and in various agency actions in Washington, D.C. The panel will discuss the groundbreaking Ohio Court of Appeals' case that allowed a whistleblower employee to succeed on the grounds of violation of public policy. The panel will guide counsel in developing effective policies and procedures to minimize the risk of OSHA or DOL charges and potential private retaliation litigation and crafting litigation strategies that will increase the likelihood of success when defending against retaliation claims.
Whistleblowers are vital to the ethical and moral compass of big companies and other employers. However, whistleblowers often pay a high price for their commitment to the greater good. They put themselves at risk of retaliation through discrimination, outright termination, or a hostile work environment.
Breaking new legal ground, Ohio's Tenth District Court of Appeals recently held that an individual could sue his former employer for wrongful discharge after being fired for complaining about the company's failure to pay prevailing wages on a construction project. Ohio's prevailing wage law requires contractors and subcontractors on public improvements to pay their employees the proper prevailing wage rate.
Employees who report illegal, unsafe, or unethical conditions at the workplace are protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Consumer Financial Protection Act, which provides strong whistleblower protections. OSHA handles the whistleblower provisions outlined in several different federal laws. In addition, many state laws protect whistleblowers from retaliation, such as the California Whistleblower Protection Act, which applies to both public and private employees.
Many recent decisions in California, Ohio, and claims filed with OSHA and the DOL have provided guidance on protections available to whistleblowers and how employers should revisit and revise their policies to comply with OSHA and DOL regulations.
Listen as our expert panel discusses these recent decisions and what best practices employment attorneys can utilize to advise their clients on compliance and claims for whistleblowers and employers.
