It takes courage to report actions that are illegal or unethical, and doing so can have big personal and professional effects. In the US, there are many rules that protect whistleblowers from retaliation and, in some cases, offer financial incentives for reporting misconduct.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) received 3,243 whistleblower complaints in Fiscal Year 2023, marking an increase from 2,815 in FY 2022.
Whistleblowers can be employees, contractors, or even customers who observe misconduct such as financial fraud, safety violations, discrimination, or environmental hazards. In the workplace, employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who file complaints for harassment or discrimination.