The interim Final Insurance Market Reform Rule under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) came out this past week, and included the employment non-discrimination/whistleblower protection provisions.  This rule could very well become one of the most litigious employment law developments in some time. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against any employee who complains in good faith that an employer is not providing healthcare coverage benefits in compliance with the ACA.  Employers and their insurers are also prohibited from discriminating against employees who participate in any complaint to a state or federal official about the perceived inadequacies of the employer’s coverage of health benefits, and, critically important, against any employee who chooses to go into the insurance exchange to purchase individual health coverage (thereby triggering, for any “large” employer, exposure to a tax penalty if it has failed to provide its employees “affordable” and at least 60% actuarially-valued, coverage). 

Employees may bring a complaint of discrimination (i.e., “blow the whistle” on an employer) within a 180-day limitations period by lodging an oral or informal written complaint (in letter-form or otherwise) with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Heath Administration (“OSHA”).  Under the new rule, reinstatement or front pay is available as remedies, as well as backpay, attorneys fees, expert fees, costs, etc.  If reinstatement is ordered, it must be done immediately pending appeal unless infeasible, in which event, front pay is awardable.  If a prima facie discrimination case is made out by an employee, the employer bears a “clear and convincing burden,” in effect, to disprove that any adverse employment action would have been taken in any event (interesting burden-shift here, and perhaps of questionable validity).  On the other hand, for frivolous or bad faith employee-filings, employers may be awarded up to, but no more than, $1,000 in attorneys fees against a frivolous-filing employee. OSHA filings are exhausted in the administrative setting before an Administrative Law Judge, and appeals are to the U.S. Court of Appeals. However, if a complaint remains unaddressed by OSHA for over 210 days, the case may be initiated by a filing in federal district court, subject to de novo review. 

These are significant developments in employment and employee benefits law. You may find the proposed new employment rules on the DOL’s website regarding the non-discrimination/whistleblower regulations: http://www.dol.gov/find/20130222/OSHA2013.pdf