In California, it is unlawful for employers to: 1) make, adopt, or enforce any rule or policy preventing employees from disclosing information, that employees reasonably believe discloses a violation of the law, to a government or law enforcement agency; or 2) retaliate against employees for disclosing information, that employees reasonably believe discloses a violation of the law, to a government or law enforcement agency. Violation of the law includes all local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and statutes, including both criminal and non-criminal laws.
Some examples are calling the police on a suspected shoplifter, filing a claim against an employer for unpaid wages through the Labor Commissioner’s office, and reporting an employer’s noncompliance with the law to an agency like the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”).
(See Link(s): Labor Code Section 1102.5)