OSHA Releases Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs
Recommendations Intended for Certain Employers
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a set of Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs intended to assist employers in creating workplaces that are free from retaliation.
Recommended Practices
The recommendations are intended to apply to all public and private sector employers covered by whistleblower protection laws that OSHA enforces. The Recommended Practices document outlines the following key elements of an effective anti-retaliation program:
- Management leadership, commitment, and accountability;
- A system for listening to and resolving employees’ safety and compliance concerns;
- A system for receiving and responding to reports of retaliation;
- Anti-retaliation training for employees and managers; and
- Program oversight.
The recommendations are adaptable to most workplaces, although employers may adjust them for such variables as the 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.
Note: The recommendations are advisory only and do not interpret or create any legal obligations, or alter existing obligations created by OSHA standards or regulations.
Click here to read the Recommended Practices.
