Whistleblower Rights in California: Protection from Retaliation

Posted on June 27, 2025 | By Omid Nosrati | Whistleblower Protection

California is home to some of the largest industry hubs in the world. From the booming tech landscape of Silicon Valley to the giants of the entertainment industry in Hollywood, all employees across the state are afforded certain protections, especially when it comes to whistleblower cases. If you report your employer for certain violations or illegal actions, you are entitled to whistleblower rights in California, and an employment lawyer can help.

At Nosratilaw, A Professional Law Corporation, our attorneys have over 20 years of experience fighting for the rights of employees across the state of California. Whistleblower cases are some of the most complicated, and without an attorney present on your side, your case has a higher chance of being tossed aside by state and federal agencies. We have secured over $1.65 million for our whistleblower clients and are ready to help you.

Protecting Whistleblower Rights in California

Despite the fact that the California State Personnel Board received 24 complaints defined as whistleblowing, only two of these cases were actually accepted. Without a lawyer on your side, chances are, your case won’t be accepted, and your whistleblower rights won’t be protected. A whistleblower lawyer can protect your rights.

In California, the main law that protects whistleblowers is the California Whistleblower Protection Act. Under this statute, employees in California are allowed to report law violations or illegal actions taken by their employers without having to fear they might lose their jobs or that they will be forced to face other forms of retaliation, like discrimination or harassment.

Under the California Whistleblower Protection Act, employees are granted the following rights:

• Employees can report any actions of fraud, public safety, workplace safety, or environmental safety violations, corruption, harassment, or discrimination happening in their workplace or perpetrated by their employer.
• Employers cannot draft, adopt, or enforce rules that are created to keep their employees from being able to exercise their rights to whistleblowing, should the need arise.
• Employers cannot retaliate in any way against an employee who has acted as a whistleblower. Forms of retaliation might include terminating or demoting the employee, transferring the employee to a less desirable position, making their working conditions more demanding, such as changing their shifts from day to night without cause or giving them a poor performance review without reason.
• Employees are allowed to seek compensation should they face retaliation for exercising their whistleblowing rights.

In cases where an employer has illegally violated your rights as a whistleblower in California, they may be subject to certain legal fines, and you may be entitled to either job reinstatement or reimbursement. You may also have the option to pursue a civil action claim against your employer for further forms of compensation, such as lost benefits and emotional damages.

State and Federal Law Protections for Whistleblowers

In California, there are several state and federal whistleblower laws that protect the rights of employees. These laws work to protect you from retaliation and other forms of unlawful behavior and provide you with legal options when it comes to seeking compensation. These laws include:

• The False Claims Act. This is a federal law that allows all whistleblowers the right to file qui tam or private citizen claims on behalf of the government to recover funds that have been lost to fraud. If you have a successful claim under this act, you can receive financial compensation as a reward for your actions. In 2024 alone, over $2.9 billion was received by brave individuals operating under this act.
• California Labor Code. Under this California law, it is illegal for employers to retaliate against their employees when those employees report state or federal law violations perpetrated by their employer. This can also apply to employees who refuse to participate in any illegal behaviors or schemes related to their work.
• Dodd-Frank Act. This federal law offers employees certain retaliation protections if they report any securities violations or financial fraud on the part of their employer. In certain cases, these brave men and women may be entitled to receive financial awards.
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This act works to protect employees who work in publicly traded companies and who report securities fraud to the Securities and Exchange Commission or other similar agencies.
• California Whistleblower Protection Act. This is the main law that works to protect whistleblower rights in California. This act works to protect state employees from any form of retaliation when reporting government abuse or fraud.

FAQs

Q: Who Is Entitled to Whistleblower Rights in California?

A: There are many individuals who are entitled to whistleblower rights in California. These parties can include any past or current employees, independent contractors or subcontractors, unpaid interns or volunteers, healthcare workers, and government workers. If you believe your whistleblower rights have been violated, talk to an attorney who can ensure you qualify for compensation.

Q: What Do Whistleblowers Usually Report?

A: There are several violations or illegal behaviors that a whistleblower can report in California. These include actions of public safety violations, environmental safety violations, such as illegal waste dumping, workplace safety violations, discrimination, harassment, corruption, and fraud. Fraud often happens in the healthcare system, with 2023 seeing nearly 450 cases nationwide.

Q: How to Prove a Whistleblower Retaliation Case?

A: In order to prove a whistleblower retaliation case, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you engaged in a protected activity, such as reporting your employer for a legal violation, that your employer took adverse action against you, such as firing or demoting you, and that this adverse action was a direct result of your protected activity.

Q: What Should I Do When Facing Whistleblower Retaliation?

A: If you find yourself facing whistleblower retaliation, there are several steps you should take to protect yourself and any future legal action. First, it is important that you document everything, including when and where the incident of retaliation took place, as well as the names of any witnesses involved. You will also want to keep all records of communication, including copies of emails, texts, or phone calls. Reach out to an effective California whistleblower attorney right away.

Hire a Whistleblower Lawyer Today

If you have reported an illegal action your employer has participated in and believe your whistleblower rights have been violated, you deserve compensation and justice. At Nosratilaw, A Professional Law Corporation, we are here to help. Contact our offices to schedule your free consultation.