Americans have been shocked by news reports about false accounts at Wells Fargo Bank, which led to $185 million in fines and the firing of 5,300 employees. With such widespread misconduct, it is natural to ask whether workers attempted to report the illegal behavior to supervisors. Many former employees have come forward to declare that they tried to stop the misconduct but experienced unlawful retaliation for their whistleblowing. These allegations could lead to a new wave of legal problems for Wells Fargo.
Whether your business is large or small, managers and other company authorities must remain vigilant and take special care to avert whistleblower problems. Several circumstances can trigger an increased risk of liability, including:
The number of Wells Fargo employees who might have a whistleblower claim means that the eventual resolution could be very costly. For many companies, even one retaliation lawsuit can result in significant damages.
If your company is the target of a retaliation complaint or if you are interested in ways to guard against potential whistleblower liability, a knowledgeable Dallas attorney with Whistleblower Law for Managers can evaluate your situation.