Shegerian & Associates Founder Applauds OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carney R. Shegerian, founder of Shegerian & Associates, a Santa Monica-based law firm specializing in employee rights, has issued a statement commending the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for creating a new Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee to make recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the agency’s Whistleblower Protection Program.

“and has caused would-be whistleblowers to keep concerns to themselves for far too long. We applaud OSHA for taking a major step forward in terms of protecting the brave whistleblowers from termination and/or discrimination and also for creating an advisory group to help police these policies.”

In 2012, a total of 2,787 whistleblower complaints – the largest number in history – were filed with OSHA, according to new data published on the agency’s Whistleblower Protection Program webpage. Over the past year, OSHA issued a number of regulations setting forth procedures for handling retaliation complaints under the whistleblower provisions of several statutes, and created the 15-member Advisory Committee.

“Retaliation against and harassment of truth-telling public servants, as with whistleblowers in the corporate sector, has been an all-too-common scenario,” said Shegerian, “and has caused would-be whistleblowers to keep concerns to themselves for far too long. We applaud OSHA for taking a major step forward in terms of protecting the brave whistleblowers from termination and/or discrimination and also for creating an advisory group to help police these policies.

Shegerian warns that whistleblowers that report wrongdoing – whether they are employed within government or the private sector, can and should be protected by law, and he warns organizations that any form of discrimination or termination of these truth-telling employees can lead to harsh financial consequences or worse.

An experienced trial attorney, Shegerian has tried many jury trials to verdict in both state and federal court, representing individuals that have suffered financial or emotional losses and have been wronged by employers, including major corporations. Shegerian has built a remarkable career on helping those who have been wronged in the workplace. He remains undefeated in federal jury trials and has won over 60 jury trials, including 23 seven figure verdicts representing employees.

Located Santa Monica, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged by their employers. Richly experienced in labor and employment law and possessing an unparalleled success record as litigators (Carney Shegerian himself has won over 60 jury trials in his career, including 23 seven figure verdicts, and he remains undefeated in federal jury trials), Shegerian & Associates is passionately dedicated to serving the needs of its clients. For more information, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com.