Is it illegal for a company to fire you for reporting workplace violence
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Is it illegal for a company to fire you for reporting workplace violence
Is it illeagal for a company to fire you
for reporting workplace violence
Asked on November 2, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Tennessee
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
Workplace violence would be that caused by a co-worker, not the company itself. Accordingly, your claim would be against the co-worker(s) in question, not your employer. The company can only be sued if it took retaliatory action against you for reporting a violation of safety regulations, wage laws, hiring practices, etc. A company cannot be held liable for the actions committed by one of its workers unless the employee was acting under the express direction of their employer.
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
No, it is not illegal. Whistleblower protection is for reporting some violations *by the company itself*--for example, that the company is violating safety standards, engaging in tax fraud, committing consummer fraud. Whistleblower protection does not protect you from being terminated for reporting violence or other criminal acts committed by employees and against (presumably) company policy, rather than on company instructions or directions.
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