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We found that OSHA has done little to ensure that investigators have the necessary training and equipment to do their jobs, and that it lacks sufficient internal controls to ensure that the whistleblower program operates as intended. More specifically, we found the following: (1) OSHA enhanced its whistleblower training, establishing two mandatory 2-week courses between 2007 and 2008, but has not ensured attendance or taken steps to ensure that investigators have necessary equipment to do their jobs; (2) OSHA lacks sufficient internal controls to ensure that the whistleblower program operates as intended due to several factors, including inconsistent program operations, inadequate tracking of program expenses, and insufficient performance monitoring. Program operations vary by region in significant ways, as exemplified by differing standards used to screen out complaints, and by some regions not having formally trained supervisors who approve investigation decisions. The whistleblower program's national office lacks mechanisms, such as access to accurate data and actual case files, to monitor compliance with policies and procedures. We provided a draft of this report to OSHA for its review and comment. In its response, OSHA concurred with two of our recommendations and cited ongoing activities in areas covered by the other three. OSHA also expressed concern with some of our findings.
Learn something new everyday. OSHA is in charge of all whistle blowing complaints filed by NON Govt. workers. So, who do the govt. workers call to blow the whistle? Obama?
Later this month six Americans will be honoured with a Ridenhour prize which celebrates truth-telling in the public interest.
They are a varied bunch. Eileen Foster helped expose systemic fraud at America's largest mortgage provider Countywide Financial. Lt Col Daniel Davis spoke out against the top brass's portrayal of US military actions in Afghanistan while he was still a serving soldier. Author Ali Soufan wrote The Black Banners, a history of Al-Qaida. The two makers of Semper Fi – a documentary about a Marine's investigation into the death of his daughter – gets a Ridenhour for film and Congressman John Lewis – a hero of the Civil Rights struggle – gets a courage award.
All spoke out even when the forces arrayed against them were large, powerful, or questioned their motives and patriotism. That should be something that the Barack Obama administration would celebrate. After all, this is a White House that once vowed to protect whistleblowers when it drew up its transition agenda. "Such acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled," the document said as Obama prepared to take power.
But that was then. This is now.
Over the past three and a half years the Obama White House has instead shown a ferocious hostility to many whistleblowers and earned itself the ire of progressive columnists like Salon's Glenn Greenwald and whistleblower defence groups like the Project on Government Oversight and the Government Accountability Project.
Danielle Brian, of the PGO, has said the US department of justice in the Obama administration "sent a clear of message of fear and intimidation" to whistleblowers in the national security field. This is how the GAP's Jesselyn Raddack – herself a former whistleblower at the DoJ – put it: "While the Bush administration treated whistleblowers unmercifully, the Obama administration has been far worse. It is actually prosecuting them," she wrote recently.
To do that it is using the bluntest of tools: the Espionage Act, a first world war-era law intended to combat the threat from spies, not internal dissenters. So far six whistleblowers have been charged under the draconian law with the last one – CIA veteran John Kiriakou – being indicted on 3 April.
Every government has a right to protect its secrets. But one can also point to other areas where the Obama administration has shown a love of secrecy that should shame the Democrats who slammed President George Bush for a similar attitude.
For example, the Food and Drug Administration is being sued by current and former employees who say it started monitoring their private emails after they complained that approved medical devices might be risky. Or consider Obama's signing of a new defence law – called the NDAA – which critics have said defines illegal support of terrorists so broadly that journalists could be swept up in it by interviewing sources at radical groups. A group of writers and activists, including a Pulitzer prize-winning former New York Times reporter, have already gone to court in New York arguing the NDAA is chilling free speech around the globe.
Perhaps the Obama administration should perhaps remember who the Ridenhour prizes are named after. That is Ron Ridenhour, a Vietnam veteran who, while on active duty, investigated disturbing rumours of a terrible war crime by US soldiers. He then wrote to Congress to reveal an event that caused headlines around the world: the massacre at My Lai. Many in the Obama White House would agree that Ridenhour was a real American hero. But if he did what he did today, in Iraq or Afghanistan, just as Kiriakou has done, maybe they would prosecute him.
Originally posted by timidgal
reply to post by jibeho
I'm sorry but I kind of don't get what you're complaining about here. This is basically saying that if you have group health insurance (which you're probably paying a portion of the premium for) and that plan is not providing you with all of the benefits you're supposed to get for your $$, there's a mechanism for ensuring that you ultimately end up with what you're entitled to.
How exactly does that translate to a bad thing?
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Now a business owner has whole new ways to worry about a pissed off employee screwing them with Uncle Obama? Well.. like I said... I'd pull the plug and screw the jobs that get flushed with yet another business gone under. I know plenty who have done just that with measurable business in the last few months. These are the types of things driving it. Hail to the Community Organizer. What a genius we elected.
Originally posted by jibeho
reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Well said! How will the administration crack down on false reports by disgruntled workers? My bet is that they won't even try. Just another way to rock the system to its core for those who wish to do so. Will the new army of IRS agents be unleashed in the crackdown on employers? I smell an Audit apocalypse on the horizon. Every action in Obamacare has been created to serve multiple needs so far and I can clearly see how this will evolve...
Originally posted by timidgal
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Now a business owner has whole new ways to worry about a pissed off employee screwing them with Uncle Obama? Well.. like I said... I'd pull the plug and screw the jobs that get flushed with yet another business gone under. I know plenty who have done just that with measurable business in the last few months. These are the types of things driving it. Hail to the Community Organizer. What a genius we elected.
No offense, but this is somewhat funny because I can assure you that this will not incite any type of fear in any business owner's heart. We have already had laws on the books for decades that are supposed to protect workers' rights (i.e. Title VII of The Discrimination Rights Act of 1964, OSHA, ADA, FMLA, etc.) and these supposed "protections" fail the working man every single day - they're a joke and every employer knows it - so why would you think that this will be any different?
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
You know, for those who would see yet more ways to agree with and support the Great Controller In Chief we have leading this nation for a few years now, I'd ask this.
Were the hotlines, whistle blower options and rewards for fraud and bad conduct not already enough? Did we really need yet another publicly touted program to turn our society just a little further toward "Liberty for most and Justice by snitch"?.
Enough Enough Enough I say. We have police, we have regulatory enforcers (actually ordering guns and ammo to the oddest of agencies for that purpose now, too..?? ) and we have PLENTY of civil options for anyone in this nation to pursue. If all that isn't enough?? "Call us and we'll sue for you!!" billboards can be seen around every major city and population center across our country. I know from having seen a good many of them in person during my travels. It's obscene.
Into all this? We even need ASK what the problem is with MORE time, resources and effort spent for yet ANOTHER effort to see citizens play "Gotcha" on each other? Yeah... This is all very Soviet in appearance. We, the good Comrades, need supervised by our fellow Comrades. It's all for our own good, of course.....
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Originally posted by timidgal
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
Now a business owner has whole new ways to worry about a pissed off employee screwing them with Uncle Obama? Well.. like I said... I'd pull the plug and screw the jobs that get flushed with yet another business gone under. I know plenty who have done just that with measurable business in the last few months. These are the types of things driving it. Hail to the Community Organizer. What a genius we elected.
No offense, but this is somewhat funny because I can assure you that this will not incite any type of fear in any business owner's heart. We have already had laws on the books for decades that are supposed to protect workers' rights (i.e. Title VII of The Discrimination Rights Act of 1964, OSHA, ADA, FMLA, etc.) and these supposed "protections" fail the working man every single day - they're a joke and every employer knows it - so why would you think that this will be any different?
Exactly..... Why would it matter? Why add another snitch program and reporting procedure be needed? My whole point is that there are plenty of ways for people who feel wronged to report or inform on those they think wronged them. So... Pray tell, since you agree this is more or less worthless as an added program.......why bother having it?
My gripe is simply that every added snitch program is a step closer to a society where loyalty to the state ALWAYS comes before all other considerations. This isn't America as much as the Soviet.
Originally posted by jimmyx
Originally posted by timidgal
reply to post by jibeho
I'm sorry but I kind of don't get what you're complaining about here. This is basically saying that if you have group health insurance (which you're probably paying a portion of the premium for) and that plan is not providing you with all of the benefits you're supposed to get for your $$, there's a mechanism for ensuring that you ultimately end up with what you're entitled to.
How exactly does that translate to a bad thing?
my 2 cents....
because it makes Obama look good, and big business look bad...we can't have that here, because...you know....it's obama.edit on 25-2-2013 by jimmyx because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by MystikMushroom
reply to post by jibeho
There might be laws on the books currently to protect people -- but have you ever known someone that had to go through a wrongful termination lawsuit?
Time, energy and MONEY is required -- and in the end, you may or may not get very much back. Besides, who wants to keep working for a company you just sued because they fired you for blowing the whistle?
Depending on how large your job field is, you may or may not also be "black balled" from being hired by others. No one wants to hire what they might consider a, "trouble maker". Companies get very "creative" in ways to not interview you or give you a job, too.