Florida State Government Employees & Contracted Employees Only

Under the Florida Whistle-blower’s Act (Fla. Stat. § 112.3187–112.31895), the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) has investigative jurisdiction only over Executive Branch state agencies.

What Is Protected?

You may be protected if you disclose information about who reports agency violations of law that create a substantial and specific danger to the public’s health, safety, or welfare, or disclose improper use of governmental office, gross waste of funds, or any other abuse or gross neglect of duty.

⚠️ Whistle-blower complaints must be filed within 60 days of the adverse personnel action. This deadline is strictly enforced and is different from employment discrimination complaints.

Who May File?

Any person applying for work or working for any official, officer, commission, board, authority, council, committee, or department of the executive branch of state government who has been retaliated against for disclosing protected information may file a complaint.

Universities and Schools

Public state universities are considered Executive Branch state agencies under the Act. Therefore, the FCHR has jurisdiction over employees of the State University System of Florida.

Covered State Universities:

The FCHR covers the 12 institutions in the State University System of Florida, including UF, FSU, USF, UCF, FIU, FAMU, FAU, FGCU, UNF, UWF, New College of Florida, and Florida Polytechnic University.

Note: Some universities may also have internal whistle-blower procedures.

Not Covered:

The FCHR does not handle whistle-blower complaints involving:

• Private companies

• Municipal governments

• Local school districts

• Most local government agencies

For a complete listing of Florida Executive Branch agencies, please refer to the official State Agencies Directory through the Executive Office of the Governor ( State Agencies Directory on FlGov.com).

Important Filing Distinction

Whistle-blower Retaliation (60 Days)

File under the Florida Whistle-blower Act if you were retaliated against for reporting misconduct or legal violations.

Employment Discrimination (365 Days)

If your complaint involves discrimination based on race, sex, disability, age, national origin, religion, etc., you must file an Employment Discrimination Complaint, which has a 365-day filing deadline and follows a separate process.

Helpful Resources

If a complaint does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) Whistleblower law, several other state, federal, and non-profit resources can provide protection or legal guidance. 

Florida State Resources

• Florida Private Sector Whistleblower Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 448.101–448.105): Protects employees of private companies with 10 or more employees. It prohibits retaliation if you object to or refuse to participate in an activity that violates a law, rule, or regulation.

• Local Government Procedures: If your complaint involves a local government entity (city or county), it may not go through the FCHR. These entities often have their own whistle-blower procedures established by local ordinance.

• Florida Attorney General’s Office: Investigates issues such as Medicaid fraud or general consumer protection violations.

• Florida Department of Health & AHCA: Provides portals for healthcare workers to report malpractice or unsafe practices.  

Federal Agencies & Laws

• OSHA Whistleblower Protection Program: Enforces over 20 federal whistleblower laws, particularly those related to workplace health and safety, environmental protection, and consumer product safety.

• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Protects those reporting violations of federal securities laws (e.g., fraud by publicly traded companies) under the Dodd-Frank Act.

• Wage and Hour Division (WHD): Enforces protections for reporting violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), such as minimum wage or overtime issues.

Non-Profit & Legal Advocacy

• National Whistleblower Center (NWC): Provides educational resources and helps Whistleblowers find specialized legal representation.

• Government Accountability Project (GAP): Offers pro bono legal advice and strategic support to employees reporting misconduct in government or corporate sectors.

• Florida Bar Association: Offers a referral service to help find employment lawyers who specialize in whistleblower retaliation cases.

Need Assistance?

If you have questions about filing a Whistle-blower Retaliation Complaint, contact:

Florida Commission on Human Relations

📞 (850) 488-7082