What is OSHA’s Whistleblower Program?

OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program is designed to protect employees who report violations of workplace laws from employer retaliation. Employers have a responsibility to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for their employees, which includes things like safety training, providing safe tools and equipment, and making sure required labor laws posters are displayed. If an employer fails to meet these standards, an employee can file a complaint and is protected by 22 whistleblower protection laws that OSHA enforces.

If an Employee Files a Complaint

If an employee files a complaint, you’ll be notified of the complaint and the course of action to correct will be dependent on the citation. It is against the law to discriminate against the employee, which includes things like: firing, demoting, or transferring them and extends to intimidation and threats from management.

Recommended Practices

OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Programs created a “Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs” to help employers foster an environment where workers feel comfortable voicing their concerns. It includes everything from management leadership, building a system for resolving employees safety concerns and responding, and anti-retaliation training for employees and managers.

How To Prepare Your Business

Keep current on all workplace labor laws and have a compliance program in place. Encourage workplace communication and ensure everyone is properly trained in the event of a violation. Be sure your labor law posters are up to date with proper government contact information to foster transparency and build trust. Most states include specific whistleblower laws on their posters as well.

Make sure your labor law posters are up to date to stay compliant and avoid fines. We have the most up-to-date posters, guaranteeing your compliance. We’ve ensured labor law compliance for 10,000+ businesses of all sizes since 1999 and offer both printable and high quality laminated posters that can be shipped next day. If you want to avoid the leg work of staying up-to-date, sign up for our labor law poster subscription service and we’ll automatically send new posters when laws suddenly change to keep you compliant 365 days a year.