Workers in hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, and residential care facilities often witness abuse, neglect, and other misconduct that endangers patients or defrauds government programs. Speaking up takes courage. Thankfully, the law protects those who do speak up and “blow the whistle” against fraud, abuse, and neglect.
If you reported fraud, abuse, or neglect in a healthcare or group home setting and faced retaliation, contact Keating Law Firm for a free consultation with an experienced healthcare whistleblower lawyer in New Jersey.
CEPA Protects Healthcare and Group Home Whistleblowers
The New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 et seq., protects employees who complain of, report, or refuse to participate in activities they reasonably believe violate a law, rule, or regulation. Healthcare and group home employees who report illegal practices are shielded from employer retaliation under CEPA.
For example, a healthcare worker who discovers and reports that management is fraudulently billing for services that patients did not actually receive should never suffer termination in retaliation for simply doing the right thing. When employers fire, demote, or punish employees who speak up, Attorney Chris Keating holds those employers accountable.
Common Issues that Healthcare Whistleblowers Report
Healthcare and group home whistleblowers play a vital role in protecting vulnerable populations. Attorney Chris Keating represents employees who reported the following types of misconduct and suffered retaliation:
- Patient neglect, abuse, or substandard care
- Failure to follow safety protocols
- Fraudulent billing for services not rendered
- Billing for patients who do not exist
- Unlicensed or unqualified staff providing care
- Failing to maintain state-mandated staff-to-patient rations
- Inadequate supervision of residents
- Theft of medications by staff members
- Financial exploitation of incapacitated residents
- Accepting kickbacks for illegal referrals
Unpaid Wages in Healthcare and Group Home Settings
Healthcare and group home workers also commonly suffer and complain of wage law violations. Employers in these industries sometimes fail to pay overtime, misclassify employees, dock employees’ pay, or require off-the-clock work. Under the New Jersey Wage and Hour Law, workers may recover unpaid wages, liquidated damages, and attorney’s fees if they were not paid their wages on time and in full. Keating Law Firm pursues legal action not only for healthcare and group home employees who are owed wages, but also for those whistleblowers who speak up and suffer a wrongful termination as an act of retaliation by their employers.
Retaliation Remedies Under CEPA
CEPA provides strong remedies when employers punish workers for reporting wrongdoing. Attorney Chris Keating works with clients to pursue back pay, front pay, lost benefits, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs. In some cases, if appropriate, an employee may also seek reinstatement to the position they once held.
Contact a Healthcare Whistleblower Lawyer in New Jersey
Whistleblowers are crucial in the healthcare and group home industries for exposing fraud, abuse, and neglect. Their rights must be protected.
Attorney Chris Keating represents whistleblowers in every county in New Jersey. Call Keating Law Firm at (856) 519-5011 to schedule a free and confidential consultation on your potential whistleblower retaliation case.