Most legal claims have time limits

Whistleblower or Retaliation Statute

Legal Citation

Statute of Limitations (SOL)

Where to File

First Amendment

U.S. Const., 1^st Am.

State PI limit

state or fed ct.

Civil Rights Act of 1871

42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, 1985

State PI limit

state or fed ct.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

29 U.S.C. § 218C; Section 1558 of P.L. 111-148; 29 C.F.R. Part 1984

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

29 U.S.C. § 623(d)

180-300 days for administrative complaint; 2 years for court (3 years if violation is willful)

EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in state or federal court

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

42 U.S.C. §12203(a)

29 C.F.R. Part 1640

180-300 days (45 days for federal employees)

EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in federal court

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Pub. L. 111-5, Section 1553; 48 C.F.R. § 3.907, and sequence

None in statute

Inspector General of the funding agency

Animal Welfare Act and Regulations (AWAR)

7 U.S.C. §2146; 9 C.F.R. § 2.32(c)(4)

None in statute

Secretary of Agriculture

Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA)

31 U.S.C. § 5323(g) & (j)

90 days

OSHA/DOL; after 180 days, option to kick out to district court

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986

15 U.S.C. § 2651

90 days

DOL/OSHA

Asbestos School Hazard Detection & Control Act

20 U.S.C. § 3608

None in statute

None stated.

Atomic Energy and Energy Reorganization Acts

42 U.S.C. § 5851

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Bank Secrecy Act (BSA)

31 U.S.C. § 5328

2 years

Federal District Court

Bankruptcy

11 U.S.C. § 525(b)

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)

42 U.S.C. § 2000e-3(a)

180-300 days; 45 days for federal employees

EEOC/state employment discrimination agency; private cause of action in federal court

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act

42 U.S.C. § 1997d

None in statute

No private cause of action for employees recognized

Civil Service Reform Act

5 U.S.C. § 2302; 5 C.F.R. Part 1201

30 days

MSPB; except for “mixed cases” under Title VII

Civil Service Reform Act (FBI employees)

5 U.S.C. § 2303

DOJ Inspector General; OARM

Civilian Employees of nonappropriated fund (NAF) instrumentalities of the Armed Forces

10 U.S.C. § 1587; DODD 1401.03

Secretary of Defense/DoD Hotline Website at http://www.dodig.mil/hotline/, (800) 424-9098

Civil War Reconstruction Era Federal Civil Rights Statutes

42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1983, 1985, 1985(2)(witness protection)

28 U.S.C. § 1658(a) applies 4-year statute of limitation to laws enacted after December 1, 1990; otherwise most analogous state law applies

Federal district court

Clayton Act (antitrust)

15 U.S.C. § 15(a)

4 years-see 15 U.S.C. § 15(b)

Federal District Court, generally no standing recognized for employees

Clean Air Act

42 U.S.C. § 7622; 29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Clean Water Act

33 U.S.C. §1311, 1367(a), (b) , 29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Coast Guard whistleblower protection [Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Act] and Seaman’s Protection Act

46 U.S. C. § 2114 (as amended 2010)

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Commercial Motor Vehicles Program (see STAA)

49 U.S.C. § 31105, 29 C.F.R. Part 1978

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“Super Fund”)

42 U.S.C. § 9610

29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Congressional Accountability Act

2 U.S.C. § 1301, 1402

180 days

Office of Compliance of Congress

Consumer Credit Protection Act (garnishments)

15 U.S.C. § 1674

DOL Wage & Hour

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) (part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010); per 12 U.S.C. § 5481(14), coverage includes the Alternative Mortgage Parity Act of 1982, 12 U.S.C. § 2801; Consumer Leasing Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. § 1667; most of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1693; Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1691; Fair Credit Billing Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1666; most of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C § 1681; Home Owners Protection Act of 1998, 12 U.S.C. § 4901; Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692; parts of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1831t(c)-(f); parts of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. § 6802-09; Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, 12 U.S.C § 2801; Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994, 15 U.S.C. § 1601 note; S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, 12 U.S.C. § 5101; the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1601; the Truth in Savings Act, 12 U.S.C. § 4301; section 626 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 111-8; and the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1701.

12 U.S.C. § 5567; 29 C.F.R. Part 1985

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

15 U.S.C. § 2087; 29 C.F.R. Part 1983

180 days

DOL/OSHA, bypass option to federal court after 210 days

Contractor Employees of the Armed Forces (for contractors of DoD and NASA; contractor employees of other federal agencies can use the NDAA below)

10 U.S.C. § 4701 (formerly 10 U.S.C. § 2409)

3 years (for IG complaint), then 2 years for filing in court

Inspector General of contracting agency; then in federal court

42 U.S.C. §  290dd–2(i); 42 U.S.C. §§ 1320d–5, 1320d–6

180 days for HIPAA complaint to HHS (45 C.F.R. § 160.306(b)(3)); 6 years for state attorney general’s action (42 U.S.C. §  1320a–7a(c)(1))

HHS (HIPAA civil penalties); federal criminal prosecution; civil action by state attorney general

Court and other judiciary branch employees

Model Employment Dispute Resolution (EDR) Plan (Guide to Judiciary Policy, Vol. 12, Appx. 2A)

180 days (but must complete Assisted Resolution first)

Court’s EDR Coordinator

Credit Union Employee Protection

12 U.S.C. §1790b

2 years

federal court

Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act (CAARA)

15 U.S.C 7a-3

90 days

OSHA/DOL; after 180 days, option to kick out to district court

Defend Trade Secrets Act

18 U.S.C. §1833(b)

N/A

immunity from liability

Defense Contractor Whistleblower Protection Act (DCWPA) (for contractors of DoD and NASA; contractor employees of other federal agencies can use the NDAA below)

10 U.S.C. § 4701 (formerly 10 U.S.C. § 2409)

3 years (for IG complaint), then 2 years for filing in court

Inspector General of contracting agency; then in federal court

Department of Energy Defense Activities Whistleblower Protection

42 U.S.C. § 7239

30 days to report violation; 90 days to report retaliation

Office of Hearings and Appeals

Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017

38 U.S.C. § 714(e); 5 U.S.C. §1214(f)

Prohibition against removal, demotion or suspension while whistleblower claim is pending

OSC; Assistant Secretary for Accountability and Whistleblower Protection

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Commodity Exchange Act reward)

7 U.S.C. § 26; 17 C.F.R. 165

Before anyone else files

Commodity Future Trading Commission

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (employee protection, see “Consumer Financial Protection Bureau” above for a list of covered laws)

12 U.S.C. § 5567 (no regulations now, but compare with SOX regs at 29 C.F.R. Part 1980)

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (obstruction of justice)

15 U.S.C. § 78u-6(h)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C. § 1513(e)

3 years from learning of violation and 6 years from the violation

federal court

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Securities Exchange Act reward)

15 U.S.C. § 78u-6; 17 C.F.R. Parts 240, 249

Before anyone else files

Securities Exchange Commission

Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX)

20 U.S.C. § 1681, and sequence, implied claim under Jackson v. Birmingham Bd. Of Ed., 544 U.S. 167 (2005)

None, consider state statute of limitations

Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)

42 U.S.C. § 1395dd(i)

None in § 1395dd(i); 2 years under 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd(d)(2)(C); consider also state statutes of limitations

Federal or state court

Employee Polygraph Protection Act

29 U.S.C. § 2002

29 C.F.R. § 801 et seq., esp. 801-40

3 years

DOL/Federal District Court/State Court

Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

29 U.S.C. §1132(a), 1140

3 years

Federal District Court

Energy Reorganization Act

42 U.S.C. § 5851

29 C.F.R. Part 24

180 days

DOL/OSHA, kick-out to federal court after one year

Equal Pay Act

29 U.S.C. § 206(d)

2 years; 3 years if “willful” violation

DOL or Federal district court

Fair Housing Act

24 C.F.R. § 100.70(d)(d)

1 year for HUD FHEO, 2 years for court

HUD FHEO or federal or state court

Fair Labor Standards Act (wage & hour, child labor, minimum wage, overtime)

29 U.S.C. § 215(a)(3)

29 C.F.R. Part 783

2 years; 3 years if “willful” violation

DOL, Federal District Court, or state court

False Claims Act (FCA) (qui tam provision)

31 U.S.C. § 3730(b)

6 years; and before anyone else files

Federal District Court, under seal

False Claims Act (retaliation provision)

31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)

3 years

Federal District Court; see also NDAA

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

29 U.S.C. § 2615

2 years (3 years if “willful” violation)

DOL, Federal District Court, or state court

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), Sections 5102-5110 (for using paid sick leave, failing to find a replacement employee to cover, filing a complaint or testifying in a proceeding)  (in effect to 12/31/2020)

P.L. 116-127; 134 Stat 178, 195-200; note to 29 U.S.C. § 2601; enforced through 29 U.S.C. §  216, 217

3 years (requires proof of a “willful” violation)

DOL, Federal District Court, or state court

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)

48 C.F.R. § 3.900, and sequence

3 years

Consider False Claims Act, NDAA and 10 U.S.C. § 2409 for retaliation claims

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)

48 C.F.R. § 3.909-1 and 48 C.F.R. § 52.203-18

N/A

Prohibition on gag clauses by federal contractors

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employees

5 U.S.C. § 2303; 28 C.F.R. Part 27

None.

DOJ Inspector General; then OARM

Federal Credit Union Act (FCUA)

12 U.S.C. § 1790(b)

Federal District Court

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

12 U.S.C. § 1831j

2 years

Federal District Court

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

12 U.S.C. § 1831k

none for reward

federal banking agency

Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

45 U.S.C. § 60

Federal Home Loan Banks, Resolution Trust Corporation

12 U.S.C. § 1441a

Federal Mine Health and Safety Act

30 U.S.C. 815(c)

60 days

FMSHRC

Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA)

49 U.S.C. § 20109; 29 C.F.R. Part 1982

180 days

DOL/OSHA, bypass option to federal court after 210 days

Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), covering banks with insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

12 U.S.C. § 1831j

2 years

federal court

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Section 402

21 U.S.C. 399d

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), as enforced through Dodd-Frank

15 U.S.C. § 78u-6; 17 C.F.R. Parts 240, 249; 15 U.S.C. § 78u-6(h)(1)(A)

3 years from learning of violation and 6 years from the violation

SEC for reward or federal court for retaliation

Foreign Service Act of 1980

22 U.S.C. § 3905

Foreign Service Grievance Board

22 U.S.C. § 4133(a)

180 days

Intelligence Authorization Act of 2014 (for retaliation claims in security clearance and access determinations)

50 U.S.C. § 3341(j)

Intelligence Authorization Act of 2014 (for claims of retaliatory personnel actions against non-exempt or contractor employees in the Intelligence Community)

50 U.S.C. § 3234; PPD-19; ICD-120; DOD, Directive-Type Memorandum
13-008

Internal Revenue Code

26 U.S.C. § 6103(f)(5)

Internal Revenue Code

26 U.S.C. § 6103(k)(13)

Internal Revenue Code, IRS whistleblower rewards

26 U.S.C. § 7623; IRS Manual, Part 25

International Safe Container Act of 1977

46 U.S.C. § 1506

60 days

DOL/OSHA

Jones Act (Maritime employees) [See also Seaman’s Protection Act]

46 U.S.C. § 688

Federal District Court, common law maritime tort implied.

Jury Duty Act (for service on federal juries)

28 U.S.C. § 1875

Federal District Court

Labor Management Relations Act

29 U.S.C. § 301

Varies with state law, sometimes 180 days

Federal District Court

Lloyd-LaFollette Act

5 U.S.C. § 7211

None in statute

Longshoreman’s and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act

33 U.S.C. § 948(a); 20 C.F.R. 702.271(b)

DOL, ESA District Director

Major Fraud Act of 1989

18 U.S.C. § 1031(h)

None in statute, consider state limitations

Federal District Court civil

Merit Systems Protection Board

5 U.S.C. § 7701(e) (civil service); 5 U.S.C. §§ 1214(a)(3), 1221 (WPA IRA); 38 U.S.C. § 713 (VA SES)

30 days (civil service); 60 days (WPA IRA); 7 days (VA SES)

MSPB

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act

29 U.S.C. §§1854, 1855

180 days

DOL

Military Whistleblower Protection Act

10 U.S.C. § 1034

1 year

Office of Inspector General, administrative remedy only, no private cause of action

“Mixed cases” for federal employees under the Civil Service Reform Act

5 U.S.C. § 7702

30 days (MSPB) or 45 days (Agency EEO)

After 120 days, option to file in federal court

Monetary Transactions (also called the Bank Secrecy Act)

31 U.S.C. § 5328

2 years

Federal District Court

Motor Vehicle Safety Whistleblower Act (monetary whistleblower awards)

49 U.S.C. § 30172

NHTSA

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21)

49 U.S.C. § 30171

180 days

DOL / OSHA

National Credit Union Act (NCUA)

12 U.S.C. § 1790b

2 years

Federal District Court

National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 (NDAA FY13), for employees of federal contractors

Public Law No. 112-239, Section 828, 41 U.S.C. § 4712, and sequence; 48 C.F.R. § 3.900, and sequence

3 years

Inspector General of the agency involved; then federal district court

National Labor Relations Act

29 U.S.C. §158(a)(4)

6 months

NLRB

National Security Act (for employee disclosures to Congress)

50 U.S.C. §3033(k)(5)

none

Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (ICIG)

National Transit Systems Security Ace of 2007 (NTSSA)

6 U.S.C. § 1142; 29 C.F.R. Part 1982

180 Days

DOL / OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Act

29 U.S.C. § 660(c), 29 C.F.R. Part 1977 (“Part 11(c)”)

30 days

DOL/OSHA-no private cause of action

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

29 U.S.C. § 218C

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Peace Corps Volunteer Discrimination Complaint Procedure

45 C.F.R §§ 1225.1 to 1225.21; retaliation prohibited at 1225.6

30 days

Peace Corps Office of Civil Rights and Diversity (OCRD)

Peace Corps volunteer anti-retaliation procedures

Manual Section (MS) 271, Section 6.0

60 days

Peace Corps Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity (OCRD), or Inspector General

Pipeline Safety Improvement Act

49 U.S.C. § 60129; 29 C.F.R. Part 1981

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Postal Service

ELM Section 666.18, 666.2, 666.3

15 days for non-bargaining unit employee grievances (ELM 652.231); union contract grievance deadline for bargaining unit employees; 30 days for MSPB appeal by veterans preference eligibles; 45 days for EEO claims of retaliation; otherwise, no time limit for disclosures to USPS OIG or VP for Labor Relations (some OIG cases can be appealed to an ALJ, ELM 666.37; appeals from non-bargaining unit employee grievances are due to the ALJ within 30 days of a Step 1 decision, ELM 666.38)

Union grievance; USPS grievance and ALJ for non-bargaining unit employees; MSPB for preference eligible; or USPS OIG

Presidential and Executive Office Accountability Act (for White House, Presidential and Vice Presidential employees)

3 U.S.C. §§ 401-471; right to file a civil action is at 3 U.S.C. § 453 and 28 U.S.C. § 1346(g)

Maybe 180 days based on 3 U.S.C. § 452(a); or “the most relevant substantive executive agency regulation promulgated to implement the statutory provision at issue in the proceeding” under 3 U.S.C. § 455; time to file with the MSPB or court is between 30 and 90 days after the notice of the end of mediation under 3 U.S.C. § 453.

Claim commences with Agency counseling and mediation under 3 U.S.C. §452, but may then progress to either the MSPB or federal court under 3 U.S.C. § 453

Privacy Act

5 U.S.C. § 552a

2 years

Federal District Court

Public Health Service Act

42 U.S.C. §1201 et seq. (1988), 42 C.F.R. Part 50, Subpart A, 42 C.F.R. §§ 50.103, 104

Administrative, within funded private entity

Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”)

38 U.S.C. § 1961- 68; 18 U.S.C. §1513(e)

4 years (applies Clayton Act statute of limitations); 3 years from discovery (under Dodd-Frank)

Federal District Court

Rehabilitation Act

29 U.S.C. § 794,29 C.F.R. §§ 1614, 1641, Chapter 60

Administrative, DOL/OFCCP; EEOC

Safe Containers for International Cargo Act

46 U.S.C. §1506

60 days

DOL/OSHA

Safe Drinking Water Act

42 U.S.C. §300j-9

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX)

18 U.S.C. § 1514A; 29 C.F.R. Part 1980

180 days

DOL/OSHA, kick-out to federal court after 180 days

Seaman’s Protection Act (SPA) as amended by Section 611 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010

46 U.S. C. § 2114; 29 CFR Part 1986

180 days

DOL/OSHA

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule on Implementation of the Whistleblower Provisions of Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

SEC Rule 21F-17; 17 CFR § 240.21F-17

Prohibition on publicly traded companies using confidentiality agreements, NDAs or gag clauses to restrict communications with the SEC staff; right to communicate with SEC without the knowledge or consent of corporate counsel.

Sick leave for employees of federal contractors

EO 13706; 29 C.F.R. § 13.41

None in regs

DOL/WHD

Solid Waste Disposal Act (including RCRA)

42 U.S.C. § 6971,
29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

30 U.S.C. §1293; 30 C.F.R. Part 865

30 days

Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA)

49 U.S.C. § 31105, 29 C.F.R. Part 1978

180 days to file with OSHA; wait 210 days, then file in court

DOL/OSHA/kick-out to court

Taxpayers First Act

26 U.S.C. §7623

180 days

DOL/OSHA/kick-out to court

Toxic Substances Control Act

15 U.S.C. §2622

29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA)

38 U.S.C. § 4301, et seq., 38 U.S.C. §§ 4311(b), 4322, 4324

Administrative (DOL-VETS) or private suit in Federal District Court

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA), for veterans preference

5 U.S.C. §§ 2302(b)(11), 3330a(a)

60 days, 5 U.S.C. § 3330a(a)(2)(A); after DOL-VETS notice 15 days for MSPB appeal, 5 C.F.R. § 1208.22

DOL-VETS (with potential referral to OSC, or with appeal to MSPB)

[Federal] Water Pollution Control Act (“Clean Water Act”)

33 U.S.C. §1311, 1367(a), (b) , 29 C.F.R. Part 24

30 days

DOL/OSHA

Welfare and Pensions Disclosure Act

29 U.S.C. §1140

3 years

Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21^st Century (“AIR 21”)

42 U.S.C. § 42121; 29 C.F.R. Part 1979

90 days

DOL/OSHA

Whistleblower Protection Act (federal government employees)

5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(8) & (b)(9)

3 years

Office of Special Counsel

Workforce Investment Act, (“Welfare to Work”), formerly Job Training and Partnership Act (JTPA)

29 U.S.C. §1574(g) or 29 U.S.C. § 2934(f)

DOL-but see 29 C.F.R. Part 37, §§ 629.51, 637.11