Raleigh, NC — The procedures and required information for a whistleblower retaliation complaint have been amended in North Carolina, under a new law.
According to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Labor, the Worker Safety Act of 2026 (H.B. 258), signed by Gov. Josh Stein (D) on June 22, “modernizes the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act.” NC DOL says the new law:
- Requires complainants to provide basic information necessary for NC DOL to conduct a timely investigation.
- Allows individuals who submit incomplete complaints an opportunity to correct deficiencies.
- Authorizes respondents to submit position statements outlining potential defenses, “helping investigators obtain a more complete understanding of the facts at the outset of a case.”
- Clarifies that materials unrelated to a REDA complaint investigation will not be considered.
- Establishes a uniform method for calculating deadlines under the statute.
“This legislation will bring commonsense reform to ensure retaliatory employment discrimination claims are handled fairly, consistently and efficiently,” North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley said in the release. “North Carolina workers deserve a process that is transparent, quick and responsive – and job creators deserve a process that allows all relevant facts to be heard. This legislation strengthens the process for both. I appreciate the leadership of both the Senate and the House in passing this important legislation.”
