When employees inform health and safety concerns to their local OSHA offices they usually fear retaliation from their employers. Retaliation doesn't just mean being fired or let go, it can include many things such as:
Reduced hours
Blacklisting
Demoting
Denying extra hours or overtime
Denying benefits
Public discipline
Intimidation
Verbal or physical threats
Reassigning employee to different department
Employer retaliation can manifest itself in several and various ways. Any employee who feels they are being retaliated against for whistleblowing should contact their local OSHA office. Most offices can be contacted by phone, e-mail, and mail. Once a complaint is received, OSHA will conduct their own investigation and proceed to amend the situation. Employers should regularly review their employee policies and make sure they are not abusing employees poorly.
