This Law Firm Publication by Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. discusses significant changes to California's Whistleblower Law, Cal. Lab. Code section 1102.5, effective January 1, 2014. The amended statute extends whistleblower protections to employees making internal complaints or even potential complaints about suspected violations of federal, state and local law. The new law also provides protection from retaliation based merely on the employer's belief that the employee may disclose the information. Previously, the California statute only protected employees who reported suspected violations of state or federal laws to a government agency. The new law applies to all employees regardless of whether disclosing the purported illegal activity is a function of their job.