A Quick Guide to Coronavirus Whistleblowing

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The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a lot of change—and ample opportunities for fraud and misconduct. If you know of coronavirus-related misconduct, consider alerting the government. Not only are there protections in place for whistleblowers, but many programs incentivize tips with monetary awards.

Here’s a quick guide to coronavirus whistleblowing.

Which statutes and programs apply?

Depending on the type of violation reported, different statutes may apply. Health and safety violations may be covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), but the act’s protections may not be adequate.

Federal employees can report violations under the Whistleblower Protection Program. Some state and local government employees may have state-specific laws, including state laws for healthcare workers.

If the issue involved fraudulent coronavirus spending, there are several options available. Federal and state False Claims Acts protect whistleblowers who alert authorities to fraud in government programs and contracts.

When the misconduct relates to securities fraud and insider trading, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the appropriate authority. This agency is currently investigating and prosecuting securities fraud issues, “related to the impact of the coronavirus crisis on market integrity.” The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) also has a whistleblower program, allowing people to anonymously make whistleblower claims regarding commodities fraud.

How to blow the whistle on coronavirus-related misconduct

If you have witnessed coronavirus-related misconduct, you can report it to the appropriate agency. It’s important to retain an attorney before you file a whistleblower claim, however. An experienced attorney can help you understand the process, and explain your legal options if you experience retaliation or other issues.

For more information about coronavirus-related whistleblowing protections and awards, a seasoned whistleblower attorney at Kardell Law Group can help. Call today to get started.

By Steve Kardell | Published February 23, 2023 | Posted in Covid-19, Employee Rights, Whistleblower Litigation | Tagged coronavirus-related misconduct, covid-19, OSHA whistleblower protection program

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Dallas Office
4514 Cole Ave
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Dallas, Texas 75205
Phone: 214-306-8045
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Testimonials

"Steve Kardell was terrific in representing me in some very adversarial discussions with Citigroup and also later represented me in my testimony before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission." -Richard Bowen, Citigroup Whistleblower
"Incredible knowledge of employee related concerns and equally brilliant knowledge of health care regulations, standards of practice. I would recommend this firm to anyone." -V.B.
"Reaching out to Steve Kardell was the best decision I made. His ability to provide immediate insight and direction was very powerful, and a huge relief during a very stressful time period. For anyone struggling with a whistleblower situation, I would highly recommend at least speaking with Steve. After a 10 minute call with him, I had a better understanding of what I was dealing with. Even better, he gave me some immediate hope. In the end Steve did a better job than I thought was possible. Steve was able to get in contact with people in my organization, that I didn’t have access to. Because of his years of experience, he already has contacts in many organizations in Dallas. The entire situation was handled peacefully. I was impressed by his ability to “keep the peace”–rather than creating a battle with the organization. The reason I didn’t reach out to a lawyer initially, was because I thought it would mean an immediate end to any hope of a positive relationship with the company. Steve was able to address my concerns, and in the end I was able to continue to work for them." -KS
"Never thought my career would end like it did after 30 years of service. I was part of the first round of the so called reduction of force. I asked myself how can I be part of this with 30 years of seniority. How did they pick these 90 plus employees? Now, the culture of this organization made you question every decision they made. It wasn’t what you knew it’s was a culture of who you know. Nonetheless, I did not accept their severance package. I immediately starting looking for an attorney who would take on my case. After the initial call to Steve I had hope again. He was open and honest about everything and reassured me he would do his best for me, and he did. I had an awesome outcome. Thanks Steve you’re the best." -S.S.