The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking comments on interim final rules that revise the regulations on whistleblower complaints filed under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX).
The whistleblower protection provisions of SOX were amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 to clarify that subsidiaries of publicly traded companies are covered employers under the statute and to add nationally recognized statistical rating organizations as covered employers. The Dodd-Frank Act also extended the statute of limitations for filing a complaint from 90 to 180 days.
The revised rules will allow those making complaints under SOX to file complaints orally and in any language. The rules also aim to enhance the sharing of information between parties throughout investigations.
View the rule published in the November 3 Federal Register
Comments on the revised rules must be received by January 3, 2012, and may be submitted through the federal e-rulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov or by mail or fax. Faxed submissions, including attachments, must not exceed 10 pages and should be sent to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-1648. Comments submitted by mail should be addressed to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2011-0126, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20210.
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