Whistleblower Home

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The City of Seattle Whistleblower Protection Code gives City employees the right to report improper City governmental actions. It also protects employees who make a whistleblower complaint, and gives them recourse if they experience retaliation for doing so. The Code also specifies how and to whom complaints should be filed.

Improper governmental actions are activities undertaken in the performance of official City duties, which:

1. violate any state, federal, county or City law or rule; or
2. constitute an abuse of authority; or
3. create a substantial or specific danger to public health or safety; or
4. result in a gross waste of public funds. SMC 4.20.850(c)(1)

The Whistleblower Code does not protect all employee complaints. Improper governmental action under this Code does not include personnel actions or authorized action with which an employee simply disagrees. Employees may not report privileged information or their own wrongdoings and expect protection from discipline. SMC 4.20.850(C)(2)

See the Whistleblower Procedures page for details about where to report improper governmental actions as well as how to proceed if you experience retaliation for making a whistleblower complaint. Contact us if you have any questions.