Whistleblower Retaliation Complaints
CSU Executive Order 1116
and President's Directive 14
protects current and former University employees from retaliation for reporting alleged incidents of improper governmental activities and/or significant threats to health and safety.
The California Whistleblower Protection Act
authorizes the California State Auditor to receive complaints from state employees and members of the public who wish to report an improper governmental activity. The University President has appointed Anne Grogan, Compliance Manager, as the University's Whistleblower contact.
If you feel you have been retaliated against, please contact Anne Grogan, Compliance Manager by phone (657) 278-5465 or email agrogan@fullerton.edu with any questions or concerns.
What is Whistleblower retaliation?
"Whistleblower Retaliation" is an intentional act of reprisal by a CSU employee on a current or former employee for filing a whistleblower complaint. The reprisal could be a threat, act of intimidation, or attempt to intimidate, coerce, or other similar act that could adversely affect the complainant's terms and conditions of employment.
Your Legal Protection
State Law:
- Protects your identity (except from law enforcement)
- Helps guard against intimidation, threats, or coercion by state employees that could interfere with your right to disclose improper government activities
- Helps keep you safe from reprisal, retaliation, threats, or coercion for reporting such information
Filling a retaliation Complaint
CSU employees, former employees, and applicants for the CSU employment can file a retaliation complaint within 12 months of the most recent alleged act of retaliation. You may use the Retaliation Complaint Form
or any other written format that clearly indicates the intent to file a complaint of retaliation for a protected disclosure or specifically references this executive order. The complaint must contain the following:
- The complainant's name, work title or position applied for, and mailing address.
- A detailed description of the actions that constituted the alleged improper governmental activity or the condition that may significantly threaten health or safety of CSU employees or the public, including the name(s) and title(s) of the responsible CSU employee(s).
- The name(s) of the individual(s) to whom the improper governmental activity or health or safety condition was reported, and the date and manner of the disclosure.
- A description of the retaliatory actions, including the date(s), the name(s) and title(s) of the CSU employee(s) who retaliated, and an explanation of the reasons why those actions constituted retaliation.
- A list of witnesses, including the facts known by each.
- Copies of documentary evidence that supports the retaliation complaint.
- A dated and signed statement by the complainant under penalty of perjury that the complaint is true, or is believed by the complainant to be true.
- File the complaint with Anne Grogan, Compliance Manager, CP 770, agrogan@fullerton.edu. The complaint may be made by personal delivery, electronic mail, regular, overnight or certified mail. Electronic communications must be sent to the designated CSU or campus e-mail address.
