Overview

The False Claims Act contains provisions that specifically address concerns you may have about your job security in the event that you report fraud by your employer. Under the terms of the Act, in general, “[a]ny employee, contractor, or agent shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make that employee, contractor, or agent whole, if that employee, contractor, or agent is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment because of lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent or associated others in furtherance of an action under this section or other efforts to stop 1 or more violations” of the False Claims Act.

The relief provided for under the Act “shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status that employee, contractor, or agent would have had but for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.”

Please note that “[a] civil action under this subsection may not be brought more than 3 years after the date when the retaliation occurred.”