What Employment Protections are Available for SEC Whistleblowers?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provides employment protections for whistleblowers reporting potential federal securities laws violations. These protections are provided under the SEC's whistleblower program, established under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010.

Updated by Joseph Orr

July 1, 2026

Employment Protections for SEC Whistleblowers
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This information is provided for educational purposes only by Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is on by accessing this content. Laws and regulations may change, and this material may not reflect the most current legal developments. If you believe you have a whistleblower claim, consult a qualified attorney to discuss your specific circumstances.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provides employment protections for whistleblowers reporting potential federal securities laws violations. These protections are provided under the SEC’s whistleblower program, established under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010.

Under the SEC Whistleblower Program, employees who report possible securities violations to the SEC are protected from retaliation by their employers. Specifically, employers are prohibited from firing, demoting, suspending, threatening, harassing, or discriminating against whistleblowers in any way for reporting potential securities violations.

If an employer violates these whistleblower protections, the whistleblower may file a complaint with the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within 180 days of the retaliation. OSHA will then investigate the complaint, and if it finds that retaliation has occurred, it may order the employer to reinstate the whistleblower, pay back wages, and provide other forms of relief.

In addition to these employment protections, the SEC’s whistleblower program provides financial incentives to whistleblowers who provide information leading to a successful enforcement action. Whistleblowers who provide original information that leads to a successful SEC enforcement action with sanctions exceeding $1 million may be eligible for an award of between 10% and 30% of the monetary sanctions collected by the SEC.

This financial incentive is designed to encourage individuals to come forward with information about securities violations, even if doing so may put their jobs at risk.

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Joseph Orr

Joseph Orr

Joseph Orr is a partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto, one of the world's leading whistleblower law firms. He brings nearly a decade of experience as a whistleblower policy researcher and legal marketing consultant, with a focus on U.S. and international whistleblower law, regulatory enforcement trends, and legislative developments.

Joseph writes for International Whistleblower Advocates (IWA), where his work covers legal protections for whistleblowers across SEC, CFTC, IRS, FinCEN, and False Claims Act programs. His research and commentary have appeared in Whistleblower Network News and publications of the National Whistleblower Center, and his content initiatives have helped expand public awareness of whistleblower rights globally.

Prior to his focus on whistleblower law and advocacy, Joseph spent nearly a decade in strategic brand communications, working alongside Hayes Roth, former Global CMO of Landor Associates, developing expertise in research methodology, audience analysis, and persuasive content strategy.

Areas of Expertise

  • U.S. whistleblower programs: SEC, CFTC, IRS, FinCEN, False Claims Act / Qui Tam
  • International whistleblower legislation and EU Directive compliance
  • Legal research and legislative analysis
  • Search marketing and content strategy for law firms

Credentials

  • B.A., Business Administration — College of Charleston, South Carolina
  • Principal, Joseph Orr & Associates LLC
  • Based in New York, NY

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