Source: http://www.curtiscooperlaw.com/employee-rights/whistleblower-retaliation-claim-nc/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 13:55:59+00:00

Document:
1. What legal protection does North Carolina provide private sector employees in regard to whistleblowing and retaliation?
North Carolina recognizes a public policy exception to the at-will employment doctrine. An employer may not discharge an employee for a reason that contravenes public policy. An employee has a cause of action in other words, the employee may sue for wrongful discharge when the discharge is done in contravention of public policy.
To determine what constitutes public policy, North Carolina courts will look to statutes and constitutional provisions to determine if a given practice has been endorsed (e.g. the right to collect workers’ compensation benefits) or prohibited (e.g. a criminal statute). So, for example, because a North Carolina statute endorses an employee’s right to collect workers’ compensation benefits, an employer who retaliates against an employee for invoking that right would be contravening public policy. On the other side of the same coin, because criminal statutes prohibit perjury, an employer who coerces an employee to commit perjury by threats of reprisal is also contravening North Carolina’s public policy. In both situations, employees are protected from retaliatory discharge.
In addition, the North Carolina General Assembly has adopted a general anti-retaliation statute, the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA). REDA protects employees from retaliation for certain activities, including filing a workers’ compensation claim, filing an occupational safety and health complaint, and filing complaints under wage and hour laws. In addition to REDA, North Carolina has adopted narrow statutory protections for other activities. Employees who engage in protected activities under laws in the following subject areas are protected from retaliation: discrimination (disabled persons), unemployment proceeding, and toxic/hazardous substances.
Thus, whistleblowers receive some protection under present North Carolina common law. These protections are in addition to the statutory protections passed by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Discrimination – Disabled Persons: An employee may not be discharged (or discriminated against) in retaliation for opposing an employment practice that unlawfully discriminates against disabled persons. Nor may an employee may be discharged (or discriminated against) in retaliation for testifying, assisting, or participating in a proceeding under North Carolina’s Persons With Disabilities Protection Act. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 168A-10.
Employment Security Act Unemployment Proceeding: An employee may not be discharged (or discriminated against) in retaliation for testifying or being summoned to testify in a proceeding under the Employment Security Act (ESA). The ESA is, among other things, the legal basis for the state’s unemployment insurance. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 96-15.1.
Retirement: An employee may not be discharged for furnishing information to the Retirement Systems Board in furtherance of an investigation. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 128-38.6.
Teachers (Sexual Harassment): An employee of a school board may not be discharged or discriminated against for alleging sexual harassment. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-335.5.
Toxic or Hazardous Substances: An employee may not be discharged (or discriminated against) in retaliation for assisting in an investigation, testifying in a proceeding, or exercising a right concerning toxic or hazardous substances. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-196.
3. How do I file a whistleblower or retaliation claim in North Carolina?
Generally: An employee may file a lawsuit in an appropriate court. The lawsuit must be filed with 3 years of the retaliatory action, unless otherwise specified by statute. If you believe you have a claim, you should contact a lawyer. N.C. Gen Stat. § 1-52(5).
General Anti-Retaliation Protection: Under the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA), an employee may file a written complaint with the North Carolina Department of Labor, Employment Discrimination Bureau (EDB). The complaint must be filed within 180 days of the retaliatory action. EDB will investigate the matter and then make a preliminary determination of whether there is reasonable cause to find that the discharge was unlawful.
If EDB finds that there is not reasonable cause (i.e. a finding against the employee), EDB will grant a right-to-sue letter, and the employee’s only recourse will be to file a lawsuit. If EDB finds that there is reasonable cause (i.e. a finding for the employee), EDB will attempt to correct the violation through informal methods (conference, conciliation, persuasion). If these attempts are unsuccessful, EDB may file a lawsuit on your behalf or issue a right-to-sue letter to the employee.
An employee has the right to request a right-to-sue letter after 180 days have passed since the filing of the complaint, unless EDB has already filed a lawsuit on the employee’s behalf.
An employee may only proceed with a lawsuit if the employee has obtained a right-to-sue letter from the Department of Labor. An employee must file a lawsuit in an appropriate court within 90 days of the date on which the right-to-sue letter was issued.
Employment Security Act Unemployment Proceeding: An employee may file a lawsuit in an appropriate court. The lawsuit must be filed within one year of the retaliatory action. If you believe you have a claim, you should contact a lawyer immediately.

References: § 168
 § 96
 § 128
 § 115
 § 95
 § 1