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.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

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