ADR Pilot Program for Whistleblowers

OSHA is launching an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) pilot program for complaints filed with the agency’s Whistleblower Protection Program.

The program will be implemented in two OSHA regions: with headquarters in Chicago and San Francisco: and offer two voluntary methods of ADR: early resolution and mediation. When a whistleblower complaint is filed with OSHA in one of the pilot regions, the parties will be notified of their ADR options and may work through an OSHA regional ADR coordinator to use these methods.

According to OSHA, ADR can assist complainants and employers in resolving their disputes in a cooperative and voluntary manner, providing immediate relief and finality to both parties.

OSHA administers the whistleblower provisions of 22 statutes, covering millions of public and private sector employees in healthcare, food, finance, air travel, pipeline, transit, rail, and other industries. The agency receives approximately 2,500 whistleblower complaints annually.

More information on OSHA’s whistleblower program