Reinstatement, in the context of whistleblowing, refers to the legal remedy of placing a whistleblower back in their original job (or a substantially similar position) after they’ve been wrongfully terminated or otherwise disadvantaged due to whistleblowing activities.

Whistleblower laws exist to shield employees who report illegal or unethical activities by their employer. A core principle is that whistleblowers shouldn’t face negative consequences for doing the right thing. If an employer retaliates against a whistleblower by firing them, demoting them, or reducing their responsibilities, the whistleblower can sue for reinstatement. Reinstatement aims to rectify the damage caused by the employer’s retaliation. By placing the whistleblower back in their original position, they regain their job security, income, benefits, and career trajectory that were disrupted by the retaliation.