whistleblower / retaliation investigation — quick-start

checklist

1. record the date, time, and content of every adverse action taken since the protected disclosure — verbal warnings, schedule changes, reassignments, performance reviews.
2. export or print every communication related to the protected disclosure: email threads, Slack messages, HR portal submissions, and any acknowledgement receipts.
3. preserve the original disclosure itself: the complaint, tip, or report in its original form, with submission timestamps and any confirmation number.
4. document who was present for each adverse action and who had knowledge of the protected disclosure before the retaliation began.
5. pull HR system records (if you have access): performance history before and after the disclosure; note any gaps or changes.
6. preserve any text messages, voicemails, or informal communications from management related to the disclosure or subsequent treatment.
7. contact a whistleblower attorney or the Government Accountability Project before HR conducts any interview — attorney-client privilege timing matters.
8. identify the applicable protection statute: SOX, Dodd-Frank, False Claims Act, OSHA, NLRA — each has different filing deadlines (some as short as 30 days).
9. file a retaliation complaint with the relevant agency (OSHA, SEC, CFTC, DOL) within the statute's deadline — do not wait for legal representation.
10. begin the primary tool path below — retaliation timeline correlator and HR record artifact analyzer.

primary tools

1. 01navex ethics hotline export forensic analyzerdrop navex export · parse report + category + user · runs locally
2. 02ethics retaliation pattern detectordrop ethics export · detect retaliation patterns · runs locally
3. 03ethics unauthorized case dismissal detectordrop ethics export · detect unauthorized case dismissals · runs locally
4. 04cross ethics hcm retaliation correlatordrop ethics + hcm exports · correlate report to employment action · runs locally
5. 05hr acuity investigation export forensic analyzerdrop hr acuity export · parse case + allegation + user · runs locally
6. 06cross er hrsd case correlatordrop er + hrsd exports · correlate investigation to service case · runs locally
7. 07servicenow hrsd case export forensic analyzerdrop servicenow hrsd export · parse case + task + user · runs locally
8. 08case report generatorfill in case number · examiner · dates · findings · drop evidence files for auto hash · generates structured forensic report PDF · runs locally

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