Constantine proposes stronger protections for County whistleblowers

May 26, 2009

Summary

Protections would be among the strongest in the nation

Story

Protections for county employees who report illegal or improper actions by their departments or by other county employees would be greatly strengthened under an ordinance proposed by Metropolitan King County Council Chair Dow Constantine.

“Our front-line employees are our first line of protection against wrongdoing or improper behavior within King County government,” said Constantine. “We need to protect our employees who are willing to come forward with reports of misconduct and to encourage a more transparent, accountable, and fiscally responsible government. If adopted, these protections for whistleblowers would be among the strongest in the nation.”

The proposed ordinance would clarify many sections of the County’s existing whistleblower code, expand protections for the reporting of more types of governmental misconduct, and broaden the definition of what is considered a retaliatory action. Under the proposal, claims of retaliation would be investigated by the County Ombudsman, instead of by supervisors in the department within which the alleged retaliation occurred.

The proposal also expands the time that an employee has to make a claim of retaliation from 30 days to six months, strengthens the Ombudsman’s powers to protect whistleblowers, and grants the same protections to employees who report problems to those outside the current list of investigating officials, including reports made directly to King County Councilmembers or to the news media.

The Council today referred the ordinance to its Government Accountability and Oversight Committee for further action.


Read the legislation