Whistleblower Investigations Manual

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: Employers that are regulated under any of the 22 federal whistleblower protection laws are encouraged to review company policies, procedures, and training systems to examine conformity with this guidance.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has just issued its Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs
Continue Reading OSHA Publishes Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs

By James L. Curtis, Benjamin D. Briggs, and Craig B. Simonsen

shutterstock_150166427Seyfarth Synopsis: The DOL announced this week its new Whistleblower expedited Case review pilot process, to be conducted in its Region 9. Employers in this region may now anticipate even more cases going to the ALJ’s, and should watch these cases closely.

The U.S. Department of
Continue Reading OSHA Pilots New Expedited Whistleblower Process – Will Allow Complainants to Request Judicial Review

By James L. Curtis and Meagan Newman

shutterstock_144257470Following through on its April 2015 “clarification” of the investigative standard in whistleblower matters, OSHA issued a new whistleblower investigations manual overnight restating the mission of its investigators.

The former manual instructed investigators to dismiss a case if complainant could not establish the prima facie elements of the relevant whistleblower statute.  The former
Continue Reading OSHA Issues New Whistleblower Investigations Manual

By James L. Curtis, Meagan Newman, and Craig B. Simonsen

shutterstock_144257470The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published a draft document intended to “help employers” to develop a program to protect employees from retaliation when issues or concerns about workplace conditions or activities that could harm workers or members of the public are raised.

The draft, Protecting Whistleblowers: Recommended
Continue Reading OSHA Recommended Practices for Employers for Preventing and Addressing Retaliation

By James L. Curtis and Meagan Newman

OSHA released an updated version of its Whistleblower Investigations Manual (CPL 02-03-005) on May 21, 2015–the first update since September 2011.  The manual now reflects procedures for investigating MAP-21 whistleblower claims (protecting workers who report defects in automobiles), as well as substantive changes to Chapter 6 which covers settlement agreements and remedies.

One
Continue Reading OSHA Publishes New Whistleblower Investigations Manual