West Virginia Whistleblower Protections
All West Virginia citizens are protected by state and federal whistleblower laws. We have provided information about many of the laws in West Virginia below. For more information about federal laws, click here.
Government Employees
Other Whistleblower Laws
Statutes specifically protecting government whistleblowers
W. Va. Code Ann. § 6C-1-1 (West)
Parties Protected By Statute
“Employee” means a person who performs a full or part-time service for wages, salary, or other remuneration under a contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied, for a public body.
W. Va. Code Ann. § 6C-1-2 (West)
Protected Actions Under Statute
(a) No employer may discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee by changing the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment because the employee, acting on his own volition, or a person acting on behalf of or under the direction of the employee, makes a good faith report or is about to report, verbally or in writing, to the employer or appropriate authority an instance of wrongdoing or waste.
(b) No employer may discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee by changing the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment because the employee is requested or subpoenaed by an appropriate authority to participate in an investigation, hearing or inquiry held by an appropriate authority or in a court action.
W. Va. Code Ann. § 6C-1-3 (West)
Specific Remedies Authorized By Statute
A court, in rendering a judgment for the complainant in an action brought under this article, shall order, as the court considers appropriate, reinstatement of the employee, the payment of back wages, full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights, actual damages or any combination of these remedies. A court may also award the complainant all or a portion of the costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney fees and witness fees, if the court determines that the award is appropriate.
W. Va. Code Ann. § 6C-1-5 (West)
General-purpose statutes protecting whistleblowers
Whistleblower Law
Citation
W. Va. Code Sec. 6c-1-1-8
Parties Protected By Statute
“Employee” means a person who performs a full or part-time service for wages, salary, or other remuneration under a contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied, for a public body.
W. Va. Code Ann. § 6C-1-2 (West)
Protected Actions Under Statute
(a) No employer may discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee by changing the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment because the employee, acting on his own volition, or a person acting on behalf of or under the direction of the employee, makes a good faith report or is about to report, verbally or in writing, to the employer or appropriate authority an instance of wrongdoing or waste.
(b) No employer may discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against an employee by changing the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment because the employee is requested or subpoenaed by an appropriate authority to participate in an investigation, hearing or inquiry held by an appropriate authority or in a court action.
W. Va. Code Ann. § 6C-1-3 (West)
Specific Remedies Authorized By Statute
A court, in rendering a judgment for the complainant in an action brought under this article, shall order, as the court considers appropriate, reinstatement of the employee, the payment of back wages, full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights, actual damages or any combination of these remedies. A court may also award the complainant all or a portion of the costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney fees and witness fees, if the court determines that the award is appropriate.
W. Va. Code Ann. § 6C-1-5 (West)