“Will I still have a job after reporting this incident?” It’s a question that might plague Indiana workers just like you who have witnessed or been a part of unethical or dangerous business practices before and want to blow the whistle. While hesitation is understandable, there are fortunately systems in place that you can seek refuge in that will offer protection from retaliation.
The United States Department of Labor has a whistleblower protection program, which was put into place exactly because of fears like yours. In a perfect world, no one would have to worry about losing their job because they reported unsatisfactory or dangerous work conditions. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the way things pan out. Obviously, you want to protect yourself and your source of income in addition to protecting your life and physical well-being. You should be able to enjoy both while on the job.
Your protections as a whistleblower are dependant upon how quickly you act, however. The program can only offer its protection if you file a complaint about suspected discriminatory treatment within a certain timeframe. The amount of time you have depends on the industry you work in. However, if you do act in time, there are 22 federal laws that have been in place since the 1970s, when the original OSH Act was passed.
So, in short, yes you are protected. There are certain stipulations that might prevent you from getting full protection if you don’t act within an alotted time, but they are there and exist to protect workers like you who risk themselves to ensure the safety of employees at the workplace.
