The ARB recently affirmed a motion for summary decision against a Complainant claiming retaliatory discharge under SOX, finding that he failed to demonstrate that he engaged in protected activity and that the Company would have discharged him in the absence of any protected activity given his misconduct. Latigo v. ENI
N.D. Indiana: Employer Bears Burden of Proving Whistleblower Exhausted Administrative Remedies
On February 1, 2016, the Northern District of Indiana ruled in a case brought under the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) that whether a whistleblower has fulfilled relevant administrative requirements prior to filing suit is a “condition precedent” rather than a “jurisdictional requirement.” King v. Ind. Harbor Belt R.R., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43263 (N.D. Ind. Feb. 1, 2017).
Plaintiff, who was employed by the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad (Company), filed a whistleblower retaliation claim under FRSA, a whistleblower protection statute that is similar in many respects to Section 806 of SOX. Like many other whistleblower protection statutes, the FRSA requires a whistleblower to file a complaint with OSHA within 180 days after the alleged retaliation occurred.
OSHA’s Advisory Guidance on Anti-Retaliation Programs
On January 13, 2017, OSHA published the Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs. OSHA’s guidance provides examples and suggestions of steps companies can take to implement an effective anti-retaliation program. However, it does not interpret whistleblower statutes or create legal obligations.
ARB Says “Convenience Leave” Letter Does Not Trigger SOX Statute of Limitations
On August 31, 2012, the Administrative Review Board (ARB) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) liberally interpreted the standard governing when the SOX statute of limitations clock starts ticking, ruling that a letter informing Complainant Kenneth Poli that he was being placed on a “convenience leave” was not a “final, definitive and unequivocal” notice of termination, and therefore did not start the clock. Poli v. Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., ARB No. 11-051 (Aug. 31, 2012).
OSHA Announces ADR Pilot Program
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is charged with enforcing the whistleblower protection provisions in 22 separate statutes – ranging from Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to environmental statutes to the Safety Transportation Assistance Act – will pilot a new conflict resolution program for whistleblower claims. OSHA Directive 12-01 (CPL 02), describing this program, was issued on October 1, 2012.