Many different federal laws protect employees who complain, testify, or otherwise assist in having proceedings initiated for violations occurring in the workplace. Some of these laws include, the:
- Occupational Safety & Health Act
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act
- Surface Transportation Assistance Act
- Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
- International Safety Container Act of 1974
- Energy Reorganization Act of 1974
- Clean Air Act
- Safe Drinking Water Act
- Federal Water Pollution Control Act
- Toxic Substances Control Act
- Solid Waste Disposal Act
- Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act
- Pipeline Safety Improvement Act
Many states have enacted laws that provide additional protection to employees, such as New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). If you believe that you may have been unlawfully terminated, it is essential that you contact an attorney immediately (if you are considering legal action). This is because many of the federal laws that protect you require the initiation of legal/administrative proceedings within 30 days to 180 days, depending on the statute at issue.