New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) provides protections to employees who report various types of fraud or illegal activities, including:
- Fraud against shareholders: This refers to any fraudulent activity that is designed to deceive shareholders, such as providing false financial statements or misleading information about a company’s financial health.
- Securities fraud: This refers to any fraudulent activity related to the buying or selling of securities, such as insider trading or market manipulation.
- Health care fraud: This refers to any fraudulent activity related to health care services, such as overbilling or billing for services that were never provided.
- Environmental violations: This refers to any violation of environmental laws or regulations, such as illegal dumping or pollution.
- Consumer fraud: This refers to any fraudulent activity that is designed to deceive consumers, such as false advertising or product misrepresentation.
- Discrimination: This refers to any discriminatory practices or actions taken by an employer, such as refusing to hire someone because of their race or gender.
In general, CEPA protects employees who report any activity that they reasonably believe to be illegal, fraudulent, or in violation of public policy. However, it is important for employees to seek legal advice before reporting any suspected wrongdoing to ensure that their actions are protected under the law.