CIG Whistleblower Protection & Reprisal Investigations 3

Question 1

What is the 'chilling effect' in the context of whistleblower reprisal?

Accepted Answer

The deterrent impact on other employees' willingness to report wrongdoing due to observed retaliation

Answer

The chilling effect refers to the deterrent impact that retaliation against one whistleblower has on other employees, discouraging them from coming forward with disclosures of their own.

Question 2

When an Inspector General conducts a reprisal investigation, which element is essential to establishing that a prohibited personnel action occurred?

Accepted Answer

The supervisor must have been aware of the protected disclosure before the adverse action

Answer

A nexus between the protected disclosure and the adverse action requires that the deciding official knew about the disclosure — without that knowledge, retaliatory intent cannot be established.

Question 3

Under the False Claims Act, what percentage of government recoveries may a relator (whistleblower) receive if the government intervenes and pursues the case?

Accepted Answer

15 to 25 percent

Answer

When the government intervenes in a False Claims Act qui tam suit, the relator is entitled to receive between 15 and 25 percent of the proceeds recovered.

Question 4

Which of the following is the correct approach for an IG when a complainant requests confidentiality at the start of an investigation?

Accepted Answer

Honor the request and protect identity to the maximum extent possible while still conducting the investigation

Answer

IGs should honor confidentiality requests and protect the complainant's identity to the maximum extent possible, while still conducting a thorough and complete investigation.

Question 5

The Presidential Policy Directive 19 (PPD-19) extended whistleblower protections to which group of employees?

Accepted Answer

Intelligence Community employees

Answer

PPD-19, issued in 2012, extended whistleblower protections to employees of the Intelligence Community who are excluded from the standard Whistleblower Protection Act coverage.

(CIG) Certified Inspector General Practice Test

(CIG) Certified Inspector General Practice Test

CIG Whistleblower Protection & Reprisal Investigations 3