Fed Throws Chum In The Water - Offers Rewards To Automaker Whistleblowers

A US Senate committee recently approved the legislation that would see the introduction of payments and awards to employees and contractors who come forward to the federal government with information about vehicle defects or violations of law that could pose a threat to life.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee was the one passing U.S. Sen. John Thune’s bill – though the legislation still needs to gain approval from the full Senate next. “The auto industry needs to be held accountable if it makes decisions that result in serious injuries or deaths,” said fellow senator Bill Nelson, the committee’s ranking Democrat and a cosponsor of the bill. The legislation has appeared as a consequence of last year’s record recalls that totaled 63.9 million vehicles in the US. In 2014 the primary safety crisis were brought by General Motors’ ignition switch defect and Japan’s Takata Corp. airbag inflator trouble. According to the new law, whistle-blowers that come forth with information in regards of life-threatening issues could be eligible to be paid up to 30% of the monetary sanctions imposed against the carmaker or supplier.
 

TheSteve - 2/28/2015 6:56:02 AM

+1 Boost

Good luck, Feds. We know from the aviation industry that blowing the whistle on your employer means nobody else in the industry will hire you, presumably because they fear you might do the same to them.

There are multiple examples of aviation engineers who believed there was a serious problem and attempted to have it addressed through official channels, and after a lengthy period of nothing being done, went public with it. They got fired, and became persona non-grata in the industry.