Speaking up about wrongdoing at work takes courage. If you report illegal or unethical behavior, you might worry about backlash. Texas law offers protections for whistleblowers to help prevent unfair treatment after they report misconduct.
Public employee protections under the Texas Whistleblower Act
If you work for a state or local government agency, the Texas Whistleblower Act protects you. This law says your employer can’t fire, suspend, or discipline you for reporting violations of law in good faith to an appropriate law enforcement authority. The report must involve a law your employer or a coworker broke. If your employer retaliates, you may have the right to sue and recover damages.
Private employee protection under federal law
If you work in the private sector, Texas doesn’t have a general whistleblower law for all private employees. However, several federal laws protect private workers who report certain issues like workplace safety, discrimination, wage violations, or fraud. For example, OSHA protects you if you report unsafe working conditions. Other laws, like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the Fair Labor Standards Act, include whistleblower provisions.
Whistleblower rights depend on what you report
Your rights depend on what kind of lawbreaking or misconduct you report. Reporting discrimination, safety violations, or fraud each fall under different legal protections. Where and how you report the issue also matters. You must usually report to a proper authority, like a government agency or official, not just a supervisor.
Don’t ignore retaliation signs
Watch for sudden changes after you report something. If you get demoted, reassigned, or left out of meetings, those might be signs of retaliation. Texas law and federal laws can protect you, but you must act quickly. Most retaliation claims have strict deadlines.
