Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs - OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs to help employers create workplaces in which workers feel comfortable voicing their concerns without fear of retaliation. The recommendations are intended to apply to all public and private sector employers covered by the 22 whistleblower protection laws that OSHA enforces.

The recommendations are adaptable to most workplaces, and employers may adjust them for such variables as number of employees, the makeup of the workforce, and the type of work performed. The concepts can be used to create a new program or enhance an existing one.

Below are five key elements of an effective anti-retaliation program:

1. Management leadership, commitment, and accountability

2. System for listening to and resolving employees' safety and compliance concerns

3. System for receiving and responding to reports of retaliation

4. Anti-retaliation training for employees and managers

5. Program oversight