On Friday, September 30, 2016, U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Administrative Review Board (ARB) issued its highly anticipated decision in Palmer v. Illinois Central Railroad Company, ARB No. 16-035 (2016), correcting its much-criticized decision in Fordham v. Fannie Mae, ARB No. 12-061 (2014). In Fordham, the ARB held that, when analyzing whistleblower claims under the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century, commonly known as “AIR-21” framework, a fact-finder may not consider an employer’s evidence when determining whether the employee’s alleged protected activity was a contributing factor in the challenged adverse employment action. As predicted when Fordham was issued,1 this was particularly problematic for employers.
Home > Federal Law Articles > Human Resources > Whistleblowing > Restoring Decades-Old Precedent, the DOL Blows the Whistle on Fordham’s “Fundamental Error”