![]() However, disclosures of information specifically prohibited by law or required by Executive Order to be kept secret are protected only when made to an OIG, OSC, or Congress. Personnel actions can include poor performance review, demotion, suspension, or termination. This means it is unlawful for agencies to take or threaten to take a personnel action against an employee because he or she disclosed wrongdoing. The Whistleblower Protection Act prohibits retaliation. Are whistleblowers protected from retaliation? The agency report is usually made available to the public. Those comments, together with any comments or recommendations by the Special Counsel, are sent with the agency report to the President and congressional oversight committees. The whistleblower then has an opportunity to comment on the agency report. If it meets that standard, OSC will require the agency to investigate and submit a report of the agency’s findings to OSC. OSC determines whether it is substantially likely that the employee’s allegation – or any portion of it – can be proven and whether it discloses a violation of a law, rule, or regulation gross mismanagement a gross waste of funds an abuse of authority or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. When a federal employee discloses wrongdoing to OSC, OSC evaluates the information and interviews the federal employee. What will OSC do once I make a disclosure? However, OSC may disclose your identity only if OSC determines that it is necessary because of an imminent danger to public health or safety or an imminent violation of any criminal law. If you file a disclosure with OSC, your identity will not be shared outside of OSC without your consent. Inspectors General are prohibited from disclosing an employee’s identity unless the IG determines that disclosure is unavoidable or is compelled by a court order. Most Inspectors General have hotlines that allow employees to make confidential disclosures. OSC has jurisdiction to protect federal employees at most agencies from retaliation for filing an appeal, complaint, or grievance helping someone else file or testifying on their behalf cooperating with or disclosing information to the Special Counsel or an Inspector General or, refusing to obey an unlawful order. patient privacy information), whistleblowers must use confidential channels such as an IG, OSC, or Congress in order to be protected from adverse personnel actions related to their disclosures. For whistleblower disclosures involving classified national security information or other information protected from public release by law (e.g. a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.įederal employees have many options on where to disclose wrongdoing, including but not limited to, making disclosures to supervisors or someone higher up in management agency’s Inspector General (IG) OSC or, Congress.a violation of any law, rule, or regulation,.For more information, please visit OSC’s website at Where can I report wrongdoing?Ĭurrent and former federal employees and applicants (henceforth “federal employees”) can report on any of the following types of wrongdoing: This guide provides a summary of whistleblower protections and avenues available to employees to disclose wrongdoing. OSC also provides an independent, secure channel for disclosing and resolving wrongdoing in federal agencies. OSC is an independent agency that protects federal employees from “prohibited personnel practices,” including whistleblower retaliation and unlawful hiring practices, such as nepotism. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) plays an important role in helping whistleblowers. Federal laws also protect federal employees from retaliation. Recognizing that whistleblowers root out waste, fraud and abuse, and protect public health and safety, federal laws strongly encourage employees to disclose wrongdoing. They play a critical role in keeping our government honest, efficient and accountable. Whistleblower disclosures can save lives as well as billions of taxpayer dollars.
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