Official Warns That SEC to Bring Actions On Whistle-Blower Retaliation, ‘Pretaliation’

The Securities and Exchange Commission will be bringing enforcement cases regarding whistle-blower retaliation and “pretaliation,” a senior official warned March 31.

“We’re going to be looking at staff to bring additional enforcement actions relative to retaliation and to bring our initial case” in 2015 related to the use of employer agreements to prevent employees from contacting the commission, said Sean McKessy, chief of the SEC’s Whistleblower Office.

“It is critical that people be aware that we are looking at agreements and we’re looking at efforts by companies to stifle their employees from reporting to us,” McKessy continued. “I’ve gone on ...