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The protection means that employers can't legally retaliate against them. For example, employers can't legally discharge employees in retaliation for exercising their rights under laws that have protection provisions.
Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, employers may not demote, suspend, threaten, harass or otherwise discriminate against an employee that blows the whistle. Generally, whistleblower protection rights are designed to encourage employees to halt, report or testify about employer acts that are illegal or unhealthy, without fears of employer retaliation.
During June and July 2009, there was intervention from the White House's counsel's office providing its own drafts of proposed legislation. Although it provided protections for some whistleblowers, it weakened it for FBI and reduced access to jury trials for national security workers who sue for protection from retaliation.
In e-mails obtained by the Washington Times from a congressional source, its effort to influence the legislation came to light. After it came out, a White House spokesman said that it was an early discussion draft that contained ideas advanced by various people involved in the negotiations including the Senate, the House and outside groups.
The bill going through Congress was initially praised by whistleblower advocates but as the details about the weakened protection became available, criticism has even been voiced by administration allies in the House and private sector.
Maryland Democrat Rep. Chris Van Hollen said that the Senate bill,
....fails short of what is needed is needed to provide whistleblower the protection they need."
When it comes to national security whistleblowers, it's still way too limited in the opportunities they have to make their case without fear of retaliaton.
One of the obstacles put in the way of whistleblowers is a review panel to hear complaints from intelligence employees who bring allegations of wrongdoing to light.
Steve Kohn, executive director of the National Whistleblowers Center and a private lawyer said,
We have grave reservations as to what's happening with FBI whistleblowers.
Whistleblower advocates want Obama to keep the promise that he made during the campaign when he latched into criticism and voted for a broad House whistleblower measure as a senator in 2007. He signed a pledge to support the legislation if he became president.
In his transition Web site, Obama stated as the new president, he would ensure that federal agencies expedite the process for reviewing whistleblower claims and whistleblower have full access to the courts and due process. Now that he is president, Obama has gone back on that promise.
Protect Whistleblowers: Often the best source of information about waste, fraud, and abuse in government is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out. Such acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled. We need to empower federal employees as watchdogs of wrongdoing and partners in performance. Barack Obama will strengthen whistleblower laws to protect federal workers who expose waste, fraud, and abuse of authority in government. Obama will ensure that federal agencies expedite the process for reviewing whistleblower claims and whistleblowers have full access to courts and due process.
If the White House can pull this off, starting with the FBI employees, which group of whistleblowers will be next?
Source:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/07/obama-pledge-to-whistleblowers-in-doubt/
Whistleblower definition and Sarbanes-Oxley Law
http://employeeissues.com/whistleblower.htm
Famous whistleblower cases:
https://www.whistle-blower-claims.com/whistleblower_cases.php
Obama campaign promises
http://change.gov/agenda/ethics_agenda/
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Comments
When is enough enough these people fear choice \\\\ Legislature branch ////
Misconduct and ethics violations seems to be standard operating procedure Senate Ethics Committee.cleared Democratic Sens. Christopher J. Dodd and Kent Conrad of wrongdoing lack of judgment.Ethics
The 111th Congress Legislature these are the defenders of the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. Two of the greatest documents ever written. Very clear documents written so plane you only need to read it or here it to understand it. These two documents are the keepers of choice.
CHOICE and everything about its definition seem not to matter much since February 12th 1999 our fine Senator's had credible evidence Article 1, the charge of perjury, 55 senators, including 10 Republicans and all 45 Democrats voted not guilty. On Article 3, obstruction of justice, the Senate split evenly,
50 for and 50 against President Clinton who got the free pass 1999 this Senate failure t
Oh well, the protections were nice while they lasted.
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