mcapo7@cox.net:
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Vicki Bartelt:
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07/28/2012 8:22:07 PM EDT
As Mark Herbert answered in a previous question, it's not a matter of "can they?" but "should they?" Not an HR "best practice."
I should add that if there is a real threat to safety and your management ignores it or intimidates you not to report it to them, then, you need to go outside the company and call the local state agency that administers the OSHA laws in your state, such as Industrial Relations for your state, to report lax safety conditions.
If your employer acts against you for doing so, that may be considered retaliation against you, which is illegal under retaliation and whistleblower statutes. The State would probably file charges on your behalf if you formally complained about their doing so, and your employer would have to respond to such a legal claim for such retaliation. So, make sure you can back up your accusations with facts, dates, and witnesses or victims.
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