OSHA in the Golden Age of Whistleblowing

摘要

Companies should create a work environment where employees feel empowered to honestly and ethically self-audit and report possible wrongdoing. Much has been written about how "whistleblowing" - instances of employees alleging or reporting suspected employer misconduct - is on the rise. What is less well-known are the reasons for this, and the role of one agency in particular in facilitating the increase in whistleblower claims: OSHA. While certain other agencies (e.g., the IRS and SEC) also have "whistleblower protection units," OSHA has been leading the charge in terms of both encouraging whistleblower claims and in guarding against employer retaliation.