File a whistleblower complaint

The Department of Labor Standards (DLS) investigates whistleblower complaints involving public-sector employers in Massachusetts. Public sector employers include: 

• State, county, and municipal employers, including police, fire, and public works departments
• Quasi-public agencies, such as Massport, the MBTA, and the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
• Water and sewer districts and commissions
• Public K–12 schools, colleges, and universities

After you submit your complaint, a Department of Labor Standards (DLS) investigator will review it to determine whether it meets the requirements for a whistleblower retaliation investigation. The investigator may contact you to request additional information. Not every complaint results in a formal investigation.

If DLS opens an investigation, your employer will receive a copy of your complaint and be asked to submit a written response and any supporting documentation. You will have an opportunity to respond to your employer's statement before DLS reviews all of the information and makes a determination.

Investigation timelines vary depending on the complexity of the case. Once the investigation is complete, DLS will issue a written findings letter to both you and your employer. If applicable, the letter will include information about available remedies. You are responsible for any attorney's fees or other costs you incur during the process.

To substantiate a retaliation complaint, DLS must find a connection between the employer's adverse action and your protected workplace safety or health activity. If the employer demonstrates that the adverse action was taken for reasons unrelated to your protected activity, the complaint may not be substantiated.