| Whistleblower/Retaliation
Law |
Legal
Citation |
Statute
of Limitations* |
Intake
Agency or Judicial Forum |
| Age
Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) |
29 U.S.C.
§ 623(d) |
180-300
days |
EEOC/state
employment discrimination agency |
| Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) |
42
U.S.C. §12203(a)
29 C.F.R. Part 1640 |
|
EEOC/state
employment discrimination agency |
| Asbestos
Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 |
15 U.S.C.
§ 2651 |
90 days |
DOL |
| Asbestos
School Hazard Detection & Control Act |
20 U.S.C.
§ 3608 |
|
|
| Atomic
Energy and Energy Reorganization Acts |
42 U.S.C.
§ 5851 |
180 days |
DOL/OSHA |
| Civil
Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII) |
42 U.S.C.
§ 2000e |
180-300
days |
EEOC/state
employment discrimination agency |
| Civil
Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act |
42 U.S.C.
§ 1997d |
|
|
| Civil
Service Reform Act |
5 U.S.C.
§ 2302 |
|
|
| Civil
Service Reform Act
(FBI employees) |
5 U.S.C.
§ 2303 |
|
|
| 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) |
Varies
with state law |
Federal
district court |
| Clean Air
Act |
42
U.S.C. § 7622
29 C.F.R. Part 24 |
30 days |
DOL/OSHA |
| Coast
Guard whistleblower protection |
46 U.S.
C. § 2114 |
|
Federal
District Court |
| Commercial
Motor Vehicles Program |
49 U.S.C.
§ 31105 |
180 days |
DOL/OSHA |
| 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 |
|
Inspector
General of contracting agency |
| Clayton
Act (antitrust) |
15 U.S.C.
§ 615(a) |
4
years-see 15 U.S.C. § 15(b) |
Federal
District Court |
| 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) |
6 years
(less in California & other jurisdictions) |
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
Coal Mine Health and Safety Act |
30 U.S.C.
§ 815(c) |
|
DOL/OSHA |
| Federal
Credit Unions |
12 U.S.C.
§ 1790(b) |
|
Federal
District Court |
| Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation |
12 U.S.C.
§ 1831j |
|
|
| 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 |
DOL |
| Federal
Railway Safety Act |
45 U.S.C.
§ 441
49 U.S.C. § 20109 |
|
National
Railroad Adjustment Board |
| Foreign
Service Act of 1980 |
22 U.S.C.
§ 3905 |
|
|
| Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act |
49 U.S.C.
§1801, enforced by
45 U.S.C.
§441(a), (e). |
|
|
| Jones Act
(Maritime employees) |
46 U.S.C.
§ 688 |
|
|
| Job
Training and Partnership Act (JTPA) |
29 U.S.C.
§1574(g) |
|
DOL-but
see 29 C.F.R. Part 37, §§ 629.51, 37.11 |
| Labor
Management Relations Act |
29 U.S.C.
§ 301 |
Varies
with state law, generally 180 days-15 years |
Federal
District Court, but has exhaustion of remedies reqmt. |
| Lloyd-LaFollette
Act |
5 U.S.C.
§ 7211 |
|
|
| 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 |
|
| Migrant
and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act |
29 U.S.C.
§§1854, 1855 |
180 days |
DOL or
Federal District Court |
| Military
Whistleblower Protection Act |
10 U.S.C.
§ 1034 |
|
|
| 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 |
None |
DOL-no
private cause of action |
| Racketeer
Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO")(very
limited whistleblower applicability-see Beck v. Prupis,
120 S. Ct. 1608 (2000) |
38 U.S.C.
§ 1961-68 |
|
Federal
District Court |
| Rehabilitation
Act |
29 U.S.C.
§ 703
29 C.F.R. §§ 1614, 1641,
Chapter 60 |
|
DOL/OFCCP;
EEOC |
| Safe
Containers for International Cargo Act |
46 U.S.C.
§1506 |
60 days |
DOL |
| Safe
Drinking Water Act |
42 U.S.C.
§300j-9 |
30 days |
DOL/OSHA |
| Sarbanes - Oxley |
29 C.F.R. Part 1980
(2003) |
90 dyas |
DOL/OSHA |
| Solid
Waste Disposal Act |
42 U.S.C.
§6971
29 C.F.R. Part 24 |
30 days |
|
| Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act |
30 U.S.C.
§1293 |
|
|
| Surface
Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) |
49
U.S.C. §2305
29 C.F.R. Part 1978 |
180
days |
DOL |
| 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. |
|
|
| Veterans
Reemployment Rights Act, 38 U.S.C. §4311(b) |
38 U.S.C.
§4311(b) |
|
|
| Water
Pollution Control Act ("Clean Water Act"). |
33
U.S.C.1367
29 C.F.R. Part 24 |
30 days |
DOL/OSHA |
| Welfare
and Pensions Disclosure Act |
29 U.S.C.
§1140 |
3 years |
Federal District Court |
| Whistleblower
Protection Act (federal government employees) |
5 U.S.C.
§ 1212 |
|
|
| Workforce
Investment Act ("Welfare to Work") |
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 |