What is guaranteed to workers who file an inspection request under federal law?

• A. They receive a bonus.
• B. They are reassigned to less dangerous work.
• C. They are protected from retaliation by the company.
• D. They are required to attend extra training.

Answer: (C)

When workers file an inspection request, federal law safeguards them from retaliation by their employer. The purpose of this protection is to encourage reporting of unsafe conditions without fear of punishment. So, employers may not fire, discipline, demote, cut pay or hours, reassigned them to worse duties, or take other adverse actions simply because they asked for an inspection or spoke up about safety concerns. If retaliation does occur, the worker can seek remedies through the appropriate federal agency, such as reinstatement or back pay, but the core guarantee is the right to safety-related complaint without punishment. The other options—bonuses, reassignment to less dangerous work as a guaranteed outcome, or mandatory extra training just for filing—aren’t guaranteed protections.