Can I get fired for exposing stuff that's wrong?

[ERS75]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington state
Not sure where to begin, but here I go. I work for a WA state Department of Corrections work release facility. The facility is contracted out to a company and and I work for the contractor. Over time I've just seen so much that I can't take it anymore, and I can't tolerate it much longer. I so badly want to say something to HR and the powers that be, but I don't want to risk my job. But maybe I need to?
For example, the director is a tyrant. Everyone knows it. She'll berate staff in her office. It's all the time. She's done it to me. The assistant director gets it to, and he doesn't say anything when she does it to staff. Moral is the worst I've ever seen at a job in my life. Yes, I can just find another job but it's not always that simple. The director and assistant director use the cameras from around the facility that monitor and record everything 24/7 as evidence for staff write ups and "talks" in the director's office. Is this even legal? They were installed by the state to monitor the residents (offenders), not for the boss to go back and watch staff doing stuff. We signed nothing regarding this at hire, or anytime afterwards?
They demean the residents (offenders) in front of other people and residents. That isn't right. Tonight one of the shift leads (with the assistant director there) made 5 residents wash the walls because they approached the desk when it was closed. This is demeaning. If the the director and assistant director's boss knew this was happening it would be a big deal. Do I say something?
Can/should I call HR and let them know? There's way more than just this stuff. It's just a sampling. What can I do? Can I get fired? If so, would I have any recourse for them doing it? The reason I still work there is because the contract will probably run out in June and the state will take over and I'd have a state job. Thank you very much.

 

[eerelations]

Your job is only protected if you report your employer's illegal activities to the relevant regulatory authorities. HR is not a regulatory authority. Further, none of the activities you've posted are illegal.

So if you do go to HR with these issues, please understand that HR is not required to do anything about them, and that your employer is legally free to fire you for going to HR.

 

[adjusterjack]

Can/should I call HR and let them know? There's way more than just this stuff. It's just a sampling. What can I do? Can I get fired? If so, would I have any recourse for them doing it? The reason I still work there is because the contract will probably run out in June and the state will take over and I'd have a state job. Thank you very much.

I can pretty much guarantee that you'll be fired if you go to HR. HR works for the bosses, not the employees.

So keep your mouth shut and your head down if you want to keep your job.

 

[commentator]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington state
Not sure where to begin, but here I go. I work for a WA state Department of Corrections work release facility. The facility is contracted out to a company and and I work for the contractor


Over time I've just seen so much that I can't take it anymore, and I can't tolerate it much longer. I so badly want to say something to HR and the powers that be, but I don't want to risk my job. But maybe I need to?

Is this your first job? I have rarely seen anyone so truly clueless about what is and is not legal on the job.

For example, the director is a tyrant. Everyone knows it. She'll berate staff in her office. It's all the time. She's done it to me. The assistant director gets it to, and he doesn't say anything when she does it to staff. Moral is the worst I've ever seen at a job in my life. Yes, I can just find another job but it's not always that simple. The director and assistant director use the cameras from around the facility that monitor and record everything 24/7 as evidence for staff write ups and "talks" in the director's office. Is this even legal? They were installed by the state to monitor the residents (offenders), not for the boss to go back and watch staff doing stuff. We signed nothing regarding this at hire, or anytime afterwards?

Not one bit of this is illegal behavior. Being a "tyrant" or a bully, berating staff members, that's all perfectly legal in ANY job situation.

It is not required that moral be kept to a high level. Monitoring staff is to be expected on any job. Write ups and disciplinary actions are definitely legal.

They demean the residents (offenders) in front of other people and residents. That isn't right. Tonight one of the shift leads (with the assistant director there) made 5 residents wash the walls because they approached the desk when it was closed. This is demeaning. If the the director and assistant director's boss knew this was happening it would be a big deal. Do I say something?

I wouldn't be so sure of this.

Can/should I call HR and let them know? There's way more than just this stuff. It's just a sampling. What can I do? Can I get fired? If so, would I have any recourse for them doing it? The reason I still work there is because the contract will probably run out in June and the state will take over and I'd have a state job. Thank you very much.

Can I get fired? Oh heck yes you certainly can be fired. The reason you are still working there is because you are going for a chance that the state will take over, and you'd have a state job, but that's almost 100% guaranteed that things may not change even if you get a state job. As far as how you are treated, how the offenders are treated, whether or not job morale is high, whether or not the supervisor uses demeaning language and treatment of the employees, NONE of your complaints are illegal. All are apt to happen to you on any job.

Perhaps you can, like the correspondent for Mother Jones magazine, work for one of these prison contractors and write an expose of how they do things there. They're notoriously corrupt and awful. But your alternative is to find another job in another field.

 

[LdiJ]

Can I get fired? Oh heck yes you certainly can be fired. The reason you are still working there is because you are going for a chance that the state will take over, and you'd have a state job, but that's almost 100% guaranteed that things may not change even if you get a state job. As far as how you are treated, how the offenders are treated, whether or not job morale is high, whether or not the supervisor uses demeaning language and treatment of the employees, NONE of your complaints are illegal. All are apt to happen to you on any job.

Perhaps you can, like the correspondent for Mother Jones magazine, work for one of these prison contractors and write an expose of how they do things there. They're notoriously corrupt and awful. But your alternative is to find another job in another field.

Are you sure that there couldn't be different regulations/policies for places like halfway houses?