--- kind: "section" citation: "20 C.F.R. § 655.801" title: "20" number: "655.801" heading: "What protection do employees have from retaliation?" url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/655.801" --- # §655.801. What protection do employees have from retaliation? - (a) No employer subject to this subpart I or [subpart H](/cfr/20/subpartH.md) of this part shall intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, blacklist, discharge or in any other manner discriminate against an employee (which term includes a former employee or an applicant for employment) because the employee has— - (1) Disclosed information to the employer, or to any other person, that the employee reasonably believes evidences a violation of sections [212(n)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=n) or [(t)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=t) of the INA or any regulation relating to sections [212(n)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=n) or [(t)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=t), including this subpart I and [subpart H](/cfr/20/subpartH.md) of this part and any pertinent regulations of DHS or the Department of Justice; or - (2) Cooperated or sought to cooperate in an investigation or other proceeding concerning the employer's compliance with the requirements of sections [212(n)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=n) or [(t)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=t) of the INA or any regulation relating to sections [212(n)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=n) or [(t)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=t). - (b) It shall be a violation of this section for any employer to engage in the conduct described in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section. Such conduct shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by sections [212(n)(2)(C)(ii)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=n-2-C-ii) or [(t)(3)(C)(ii)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=t-3-C-ii) of the INA and [§ 655.810(b)(2)](/cfr/20/655.810.md?p=b-2), i.e., a fine of up to $9,624, disqualification from filing petitions under [section 204](/cfr/20/204.md) or [section 214(c)](/cfr/20/214.md?p=c) of the INA for at least two years, and such further administrative remedies as the Administrator considers appropriate. - (c) Pursuant to sections [212(n)(2)(C)(v)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=n-2-C-v) and [(t)(3)(C)(v)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=t-3-C-v) of the INA, an H-1B nonimmigrant who has filed a complaint alleging that an employer has discriminated against the employee in violation of [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) of this section may be allowed to seek other appropriate employment in the United States, provided the employee is otherwise eligible to remain and work in the United States. Such employment may not exceed the maximum period of stay authorized for a nonimmigrant classified under sections [212(n)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=n) or [(t)](/cfr/20/212.md?p=t) of the INA, as applicable. Further information concerning this provision should be sought from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security. ## Notes ### Amendments [65 FR 80233, Dec. 20, 2000, as amended at 69 FR 68229, Nov. 23, 2004; 71 FR 35521, June 21, 2006; 81 FR 43448, July 1, 2016; 82 FR 5380, Jan. 18, 2017; 83 FR 11, Jan. 2, 2018; 84 FR 217, Jan. 23, 2019; 85 FR 2296, Jan. 15, 2020; 86 FR 2967, Jan. 14, 2021; 87 FR 2333, Jan. 14, 2022; 88 FR 2214, Jan. 13, 2023; 89 FR 1814, Jan. 11, 2024; 90 FR 1858, Jan. 10, 2025] ### Source Source: 59 FR 65672, 65676, Dec. 20, 1994, unless otherwise noted. ### Authority Authority: Section 655.0 issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(E)(iii), 1101(a)(15)(H)(i) and (ii), 8 U.S.C. 1103(a)(6), 1182(m), (n), and (t), 1184(c), (g), and (j), 1188, and 1288(c) and (d); sec. 3(c)(1), Pub. L. 101-238, 103 Stat. 2099, 2102 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note); sec. 221(a), Pub. L. 101-649, 104 Stat. 4978, 5027 (8 U.S.C. 1184 note); sec. 303(a)(8), Pub. L. 102-232, 105 Stat. 1733, 1748 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note); sec. 323(c), Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2428; sec. 412(e), Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note); sec. 2(d), Pub. L. 106-95, 113 Stat. 1312, 1316 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note); 29 U.S.C. 49k; Pub. L. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, as amended; Pub. L. 109-423, 120 Stat. 2900; 8 CFR 214.2(h)(4)(i); 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(iii); and sec. 6, Pub. L. 115-218, 132 Stat. 1547 (48 U.S.C. 1806). Subpart A issued under 8 CFR 214.2(h). Subpart B issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 1184(c), and 1188; and 8 CFR 214.2(h). Subpart E issued under 48 U.S.C. 1806. Subparts F and G issued under 8 U.S.C. 1288(c) and (d); sec. 323(c), Pub. L. 103-206, 107 Stat. 2428; and 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, Pub. L. 114-74 at section 701. Subparts H and I issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) and (b)(1), 1182(n), and (t), and 1184(g) and (j); sec. 303(a)(8), Pub. L. 102-232, 105 Stat. 1733, 1748 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note); sec. 412(e), Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681; 8 CFR 214.2(h); and 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, Pub. L. 114-74 at section 701. Subparts L and M issued under 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(c) and 1182(m); sec. 2(d), Pub. L. 106-95, 113 Stat. 1312, 1316 (8 U.S.C. 1182 note); Pub. L. 109-423, 120 Stat. 2900; and 8 CFR 214.2(h). ### Source Source: 42 FR 45899, Sept. 13, 1977, unless otherwise noted. ### Amendments [65 FR 80233, Dec. 20, 2000, as amended at 69 FR 68229, Nov. 23, 2004; 71 FR 35521, June 21, 2006; 81 FR 43448, July 1, 2016; 82 FR 5380, Jan. 18, 2017; 83 FR 11, Jan. 2, 2018; 84 FR 217, Jan. 23, 2019; 85 FR 2296, Jan. 15, 2020; 86 FR 2967, Jan. 14, 2021; 87 FR 2333, Jan. 14, 2022; 88 FR 2214, Jan. 13, 2023; 89 FR 1814, Jan. 11, 2024; 90 FR 1858, Jan. 10, 2025]