Telling Somebody At Work
G.L. c. 149, § 185 — public employees, written notice to a supervisor first, and two years to sue
Massachusetts' whistleblower section covers employees of the Commonwealth, its agencies and political subdivisions, including cities, towns, counties and regional school districts, and of gas and electricity public utilities.
- Disclosing or threatening to disclose, to a supervisor or a public body, an activity, policy or practice the employee reasonably believes violates a law, rule or regulation, or poses a risk to public health, safety or the environment.
- Providing information to, or testifying before, a public body investigating it.
- Objecting to, or refusing to participate in, it.
Written notice first, with exceptions. Protection for a disclosure to a public body requires written notice to a supervisor and a reasonable opportunity to correct, unless the employee is reasonably certain supervisors already know and it is an emergency, reasonably fears physical harm, or is providing evidence of what the employee reasonably believes is a crime to a court or law enforcement.
Two years, and three times the wages. An aggrieved employee or former employee may bring a civil action in the superior court within two years, with a jury trial on claim. The court may order injunctions, reinstatement, benefits and seniority, three times the lost wages, benefits and other remuneration with interest, and costs and attorneys' fees.
Federal statutes protect reports in particular fields, such as workplace safety, securities and federal contracts, with their own agencies and deadlines, and are not on this page. Whether a particular report was protected, and whether what followed was retaliation for it, are questions for a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.L. c. 149, § 185 — Retaliation against employees reporting violations of law or risks to public health, safety or environment
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Massachusetts attorney.