Whistleblower or Retaliation Statute

Legal Citation

Statute of Limitations (SOL)

Where to File

First Amendment

U.S. Const., 1^st Am.

State PI limit

state or fed ct.

Civil Rights Act of 1871

42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985

State PI limit

state or fed ct.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

29 U.S.C. § 623(d)

180-300 days

EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in federal court

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

42 U.S.C. §12203(a)

29 C.F.R. Part 1640

180-300 days

EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in federal court

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986

15 U.S.C. § 2651

90 days

DOL/OSHA

Asbestos School Hazard Detection & Control Act

20 U.S.C. § 3608

None in statute

None stated.

Atomic Energy and Energy Reorganization Acts

42 U.S.C. § 5851

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Bankruptcy

11 U.S.C. § 525(b)

Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII)

42 U.S.C. § 2003a

180-300 days

EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in federal court

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act

42 U.S.C. § 1997d

None in statute

No private cause of action for employees recognized

Civil Service Reform Act

5 U.S.C. § 2302

Not in statute

No private cause of action, administrative remedies only

Civil Service Reform Act

(FBI employees)

5 U.S.C. § 2303

See Whistleblower Protection Act

Civilian Employees of the Armed Forces

10 U.S.C. § 1587

Secretary of Defense/OPM, MSPB

Civil War Reconstruction Era Federal Civil Rights Statutes

42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, 1985, 1985(2)(witness protection)

28 U.S.C. § 1658(a) applies 4-year statute of limitation to laws enacted after December 1, 1990; otherwise most analogous state law applies

Federal district court

Clayton Act (antitrust)

15 U.S.C. § 15(a)

4 years-see 15 U.S.C. § 15(b)

Federal District Court, generally no standing recognized for employees

Clean Air Act

42 U.S.C. § 7622

29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Coast Guard whistleblower protection [Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Act]

46 U.S. C. § 2114

None in statute

Federal District Court

Commercial Motor Vehicles Program

49 U.S.C. § 31105

180 days

DOL

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("Super Fund")

42 U.S.C. § 9610

29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Contractor Employees of the Armed Forces

10 U.S.C. § 2409

None in statute

Inspector General of contracting agency, no private cause of action recognized by courts

Credit Union Employee Protection

12 U.S.C. §1790b

2 years

federal court

Department of Energy Defense Activities Whistleblower Protection

42 U.S.C. § 7239

30 days to report violation; 90 days to report retaliation

Office of Hearings and Appeals

Employee Polygraph Protection Act

29 U.S.C. § 2002

29 C.F.R. § 801 et seq., esp. 801-40

3 years

DOL/Federal District Court/State Court

Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

29 U.S.C. §1132(a), 1140

3 years

Federal District Court

Energy Reorganization Act

42 U.S.C. § 5851

29 C.F.R. Part 24

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Equal Pay Act

29 U.S.C. § 206(d)

2 years; 3 years if "wilful" violation

DOL or Federal district court

Fair Labor Standards Act (wage & hour, child labor, minimum wage, overtime)

29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3)

29 C.F.R. Part 783

2 years; 3 years if "wilful" violation

DOL, Federal District Court, or state court

False Claims Act

31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)

State tort time limit applies

Federal District Court

Family and Medical Leave Act "[FMLA"]

29 U.S.C. § 2615

2 years (3 years if "wilful" violation)

DOL, Federal District Court, or state court

Federal Credit Unions

12 U.S.C. § 1790(b)

Federal District Court

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, banks

12 U.S.C. § 1831j

2 years

federal court

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

12 U.S.C. § 1831k

none for reward

federal banking agency

Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

45 U.S.C. § 60

Federal Home Loan Banks, Resolution Trust Corporation

12 U.S.C. § 1441a

Federal Mine Health and Safety Act

30 U.S.C. 815(c)

60 days

FMSHRC

Federal Railway Safety Act

45 U.S.C. § 441 (old), now:

49 U.S.C. § 20109;

Complaint to be filed under Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. § 153).

National Railroad Adjustment Board; State law claims may be preempted

Foreign Service Act of 1980

22 U.S.C. § 3905

Jones Act (Maritime employees)

46 U.S.C. § 688

Federal District Court, common law maritime tort implied.

Labor Management Relations Act

29 U.S.C. § 301

Varies with state law, generally 180 days-15 years

Federal District Court

Lloyd-LaFollette Act

5 U.S.C. § 7211

None in statute

Longshoreman's and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act

33 U.S.C. § 948(a)

DOL

Major Fraud Act of 1989

18 U.S.C. § 1031

None in statute

Federal District Court civil

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act

29 U.S.C. §§1854, 1855

180 days

DOL

Military Whistleblower Protection Act

10 U.S.C. § 1034

None in statute

Office of Inspector General, administrative remedy only, no private cause of action

Monetary Transactions

31 U.S.C. § 5328

2 years

federal court

National Labor Relations Act

29 U.S.C. §158(a)(4)

6 months

NLRB

Occupational Safety and Health Act

29 U.S.C. § 660(c), 29 C.F.R. Part 1977 ("Part 11(c)")

30 days

DOL/OSHA-no private cause of action

Pipeline Safety Improvement Act

49 U.S.C. § 60129

180 days

OSHA

Public Health Service Act

42 U.S.C. §1201 et seq. (1988), 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart A, 42 C.F.R. §§ 50.103, 104

Administrative, within funded private entity

Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO")(very limited whistleblower applicability-see Beck v. Prupis, 529 U.S. 494 (2000))

38 U.S.C. § 1961- 68

4 years (applies Clayton Act statute of limitations)

Federal District Court

Railway Safety Labor Act

49 U.S.C. § 20109

National Railroad Adjustment Board

Railway Security

49 U.S.C. § 20118

90 days

OSHA/DOL

Rehabilitation Act

29 U.S.C. § 794,29 C.F.R. §§ 1614, 1641, Chapter 60

Administrative, DOL/OFCCP; EEOC

Safe Containers for International Cargo Act

46 U.S.C. §1506

60 days

DOL/OSHA

Safe Drinking Water Act

42 U.S.C. §300j-9

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Sarbanes Oxley Act

18 U.S.C. § 1514A

90 days

DOL/OSHA

Solid Waste Disposal Act

42 U.S.C. § 6971,
29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

30 U.S.C. §1293

None in statute

Administrative,DOL

Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA)

49 U.S.C. §2305, 29 C.F.R. Part 1978

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Toxic Substances Control Act

15 U.S.C. §2622

29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994

38 U.S.C. § 4301, et seq., 38 U.S.C. §4311(b)

Administrative (Secretary of Defense, OPM) or private suit in Federal District Court

[Federal] Water Pollution Control Act ("Clean Water Act")

33 U.S.C. §1311, 1367(a), (b) , 29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Welfare and Pensions Disclosure Act

29 U.S.C. §1140

3 year

Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21^st Century ("AIR 21")

42 U.S.C. § 42121

90 days

DOL/OSHA

Whistleblower Protection Act (federal government employees)

5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8) & (b)(9)

180 days

DOL

Workforce Investment Act, ("Welfare to Work"), formerly Job Training and Partnership Act (JTPA)

29 U.S.C. §1574(g) or 29 U.S.C. § 2934(f)

DOL-but see 29 C.F.R. Part 37, §§ 629.51, 637.11