California Whistleblower Law Shields More Than First Complainant

California whistleblower law protects all who complain of labor law violations even if the employer knew about the situation, the state’s Supreme Court ruled Monday in a case brought by the state’s labor commissioner.

Justices weighed the burden on employees for knowing whether they’re reporting original or known information to obtain protection from retaliation, and to whom their complaints are made. The unanimous court concluded a protected disclosure under the law “encompasses reports or complaints of a violation made to an employer or agency even if the recipient already knows of the violation.”

Adopting a “first known” rule and denying ...