Smart Talk: Whistleblowers protected in PA?
What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, March 18, 2014:
It’s common knowledge that it is illegal for an employer in Pennsylvania to fire or discriminate against an employee on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, or age. However, many don’t realize that it also is unlawful for an employer to terminate or retaliate against a whistleblower.
A whistleblower is an employee who reports fraud, waste, or wrongdoing witnessed in the workplace.
There have been dozens of highly publicized cases of whistleblowers exposing something they feel is wrong or illegal.
They include Edward Snowden, the former National Security Administration computer contractor who exposed widespread surveillance by the U.S. and British governments, although some believe Snowden is a traitor that jeopardized American lives rather than exposing wrongdoing.
Another in the news is former Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary who has filed a $4 million whistleblower suit against the university saying he can’t get a job after he was dismissed for testifying in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case.
On Tuesday’s Smart Talk, we dig deeper into Pennsylvania’s whistleblowing laws.
Appearing on the program is Katherine Pearson, Professor of Law at Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law and Jeb White, an expert on whistleblower cases, who is an attorney with a Philadelphia law firm.
Jeb White and Katherine Pearson
Listen to the program:
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