Woodland Hills Whistleblower Lawyers

Dedicated Counsel from the Law Office of Payab & Associates

Whistleblowers are employees who go to the authorities with knowledge or legitimate suspicions of their own employers' illegal acts. Whistleblowers do this at great risk to their professional reputations and careers, as their employers will often retaliate against these brave employees. The state of California and the federal government both provide protections for whistleblowers. If retaliation does occur, whistleblowers often have the grounds to seek compensation.

If your employer retaliates against or wrongfully terminates you after you report their wrongdoing to the authorities, the Law Office of Payab & Associates is ready to hear your story. We have a complete understanding of the laws designed to protect these heroic employees and how to substantiate wrongdoing by employers in these cases. Our Woodland Hills whistleblower attorneys are ready to diligently pursue the relief you deserve.

We are ready to fight for you. Call (818) 918-5522 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation today.

Standing with Whistleblowing Employees in California

Whistleblowers know that they risk their reputation and employment when they come forward to report wrongdoing but do so regardless. If you are prepared to put everything on the line because you know it’s the right thing to do, you deserve legal protection. Our team can help assert your rights and protect your interests. 

Our Woodland Hills whistleblower lawyers are ready to work with you if you are reporting:

• Any form of fraud. Employees have a moral obligation to report any type of fraud committed by or within an organization, including financial fraud, corruption, and tax fraud. When a company engages in deceptive practices like falsifying financial records or embezzling funds, they not only violate legal standards but also mislead stakeholders about the company's financial health. Acts of corruption, such as offering or accepting bribes to influence business outcomes, undermine fair business practices and legal processes. Any deliberate misrepresentation or concealment of information to reduce tax liability constitutes tax fraud.
• Breach of fiduciary duties. Breaches of fiduciary duty are another serious concern that can necessitate whistleblowing. Fiduciary duty refers to the obligation that certain individuals, such as corporate officers, directors, or trustees, have to act in the best interests of the company or its shareholders. When these individuals fail to do so, they betray the trust placed in them and potentially cause significant harm to the company and its stakeholders. For example, individuals in positions of power may face situations where their personal interests conflict directly with their duties to the company. Failing to disclose or actively pursuing personal gains at the company's expense is unethical and a breach of their fiduciary duty. On the other hand, negligence involves scenarios where fiduciaries fail to exercise due diligence in their decision-making or fail to act when needed. This can lead to uninformed business decisions that could harm the company's financial prospects. Executives might also face situations where they could benefit personally from transactions made by the company. Acting on such opportunities without transparent, independent approval is considered “self-dealing” and is a betrayal of their fiduciary responsibilities.
• Health and safety violations. Whistleblowing becomes a moral imperative when employees face dangerous working conditions that threaten their well-being. These violations can range from inadequate personal protective equipment and exposure to toxic substances to the disregard of protocols designed to prevent occupational accidents. Reporting these conditions is not only a matter of legal compliance but also a critical step in preserving health and safety in the workplace. By drawing attention to these hazards when managers fail to act, whistleblowers can enact change that can prevent injuries, long-term health issues, and in severe cases, fatalities.
• Employment law violations. A variety of employment law violations may call for whistleblowing if the matter cannot be resolved internally. Wage theft, for example, occurs when employers fail to pay workers what they are legally owed, whether through denying overtime pay, forcing employees to work off the clock, or paying below the minimum wage. Any discriminatory practices that favor or disadvantage employees because of their membership in a protected class could warrant blowing the whistle. Whistleblowing may also be justified in cases of workplace harassment where an employee's work environment is made hostile or intimidating, particularly when the conduct in question is pervasive and the employer neglects to take appropriate corrective action.

Retaliation for Blowing the Whistle in California

While multiple state laws forbid retaliation against California whistleblowers, the unfortunate reality is that many of these brave employees still face unjust consequences for their courageous actions. Some forms of retaliation may be obvious, while others could be subtler and tougher to detect at first.

Examples of retaliation a whistleblower might face include:

• Demotions, reductions in pay, or reductions in hours. Your employer may claim poor performance or a downturn in business is to blame, but you should be suspicious of any effort to reduce your compensation or title after you blow the whistle. 
• Undesirable job assignments or shifts. Similarly, if your employer starts to give you the most menial, unpleasant, or inconvenient tasks and shifts more than other employees, they may be trying to punish you for speaking out.
• Denied promotions. If you were previously poised to receive a promotion that your employer walked back after you reported wrongdoing, you could be a victim of retaliation. Even if there was no promise or expectation of an imminent promotion, your employer could also retaliate against you by selecting an employee with demonstrably less experience and a less impressive performance record for an advancement opportunity over you. 
• Wrongful termination. In a worst-case scenario, your employer may attempt to terminate you. They will likely attempt to disguise the retaliatory nature of the dismissal by firing you for unjustifiable performance-related reasons or as part of a larger layoff or restructuring. 

No matter what type of whistleblower action you have been involved with, if you have been retaliated against, you are likely eligible for relief. Our Woodland Hills whistleblower attorneys at the Law Office of Payab & Associates can provide powerful advocacy and help you explore your legal options.

Start the conversation today by calling (818) 918-5522 or contacting us online.