Identification

• The Whistleblowers Protection Act prevents employers of federal employees from retaliating against people who report unlawful, suspicious or inappropriate acts. Specifically, it imposes penalties on employers who take what the bill calls "personnel" actions against such individuals.
  
  

Features

• The Act defines personnel actions as passing over for promotions; terminating employment; taking disciplinary actions; providing negative commentary on performance appraisals; negative decisions concerning pay, awards or benefits; and demotion or taking away job duties.
  
  

Benefits

• By protecting their interests, the Whistleblowers Protection Act encourages federal employees to report wrongdoings, helping to control ethics and criminal violations by other government employees.
  
  

Penalties

• Penalties for Whistleblowers Protection Act violations include demotion, bans from federal employment for up to five years and up to $1,000 in fines.
  
  

Considerations

• The U.S. Office of Special Counsel investigates all complaints of Whistleblowers Protection Act violations.