When a whistleblower steps out and speaks up about the inappropriate conduct that they see within their workplace, they risk many things for the sake of doing what is right. Unfortunately, in addition to job security, reputation, and other things, their physical and emotional health may be compromised.
A woman who is the lead case technician at the Madison, Wisconsin Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (part of the Social Security Administration, or SSA) is living out the nightmare of what can happen to a whistleblower’s health after they shed light on inappropriate activity in their workplace. Federal employees are required by law to report abuse, waste, or fraud that they see within their agencies, so the woman is suffering because she did her job properly.
As with other whistleblowers who experience retaliation, the woman is stuck between two unappealing options – stay and continue to be treated terribly, or leave and lose her livelihood. Being trapped in that position is not only difficult, for this woman it is causing her physical harm. The stress that she experiences as the result of the way that she gets treated at work has caused her to have migraines much more often than she has ever had them before. She has even been having what doctors call “mini-strokes” because of the stress that she is subject to at work. She is at high risk for major stroke. The woman’s doctor has even suggested that she stop working until her whistleblower case is resolved, stating an admirable yet unachievable goal of zero workplace stress that would be hard for her to attain even if she were to leave her position at the Madison SSA.
The Madison SSA, which is currently under investigation for cover-ups, corruption, poor hiring practices, racism, sexism, and more, has given the woman permission to work at home, which she does. Unfortunately, working from home has not protected her from workplace bullying. Harassment now comes in intimidating emails, instant messenger messages, and phone calls. The woman is gradually getting stripped of her duties, which is humiliating and adds stress on top of the stress from the harassment. This particular employee is one whose work performance was lauded before she became a whistleblower. She has received numerous awards for excellent work during her time at the SSA.
The woman who is suffering ill health as the result of workplace retaliation at the Madison SSA is not alone in her experience. A recent study of twenty-five whistleblowers indicated that they were either let go from their jobs or forced out of them by increasing pressure through bullying and harassment until they finally cracked under pressure and left. The SSA and other employers are not supposed to retaliate against whistleblowers, but the anti-retaliation provisions of the whistleblower protection laws don’t seem to prevent employers from engaging in bullying, demotion, harassment, and other retaliatory actions.
Barrett Law PLLC: Defense for Mississippi Whistleblowers
If you have reported inappropriate conduct in your workplace, you are probably protected by the whistleblower protection laws. If you are experiencing retaliation like intimidation, humiliation, bullying, harassment, or another kind of unfair treatment you might be able to file a claim for damages. To learn more, call the Mississippi Whistleblower Attorney of Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (601) 790-1505 for an initial consultation.
