Question

Erin works for a dry-cleaning company that has a contract with the U.S. government. To save on cleaning fluid, her boss orders her to wash some clothes that are supposed to be dry-cleaned in a washing machine. When the courier hired to pick up the cleaned garments arrives, Erin tells him about her boss's actions. Erin tells no one else about what is going on and is later fired. Erin:________.
a. is not protected by the whistleblower statute because she failed to inform the proper party of the contract violation.
b. will be reinstated to her former job because when she told the courier of the problem she was merely exercising her First Amendment right to free speech.
c. is not protected by the state whistleblower statute. It is inapplicable because the contract was with the federal government.
d. is protected by the whistleblower statute in her state because she spoke up about her employer's actions.

Answer 1

Answer:

a. is not protected by the whistleblower statute because she failed to inform the proper party of the contract violation.

Explanation:

Erin works for a dry-cleaning company that has a contract with the U.S. government. To save on cleaning fluid, her boss orders her to wash some clothes that are supposed to be dry-cleaned in a washing machine. When the courier hired to pick up the cleaned garments arrives, Erin tells him about her boss's actions. Erin tells no one else about what is going on and is later fired. Erin is not protected by the whistleblower statute because she failed to inform the proper party of the contract violation.

The whistleblower act of 1989 grants protection to individuals who reveal or exposes any illegal or unethical practices going on in the organization in which they act to the right authorities or concerned/affected individuals.  

Erin did not carryout a whistleblowing act as he did not reveal/expose the unethical practices of his boss to the right authorities or affected individuals and as such he will not be protected under the whistleblower policy.