§ 810.800 Prohibited acts.

(a) Discrimination. (1) It is unlawful to intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, blacklist, discharge, or in any other manner discriminate against any person because the person has—

(i) Disclosed information to a federal agency or to any person relating to a verification of the producer's compliance with the LVC requirements, or

(ii) Cooperated or sought to cooperate in a verification concerning the producer's compliance with the LVC requirements.

(b) Complaints. (1) Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in violation of this section may file a complaint alleging such discrimination.

(2) The complaint shall be filed with WHD. A complaint may be filed at any WHD local office; the address and telephone number of local offices may be found in telephone directories or at the following internet address: http://www.dol.gov/whd.

(3) Within 12 months after the alleged discriminatory act occurs, a person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against may file, or have filed by any person on that person's behalf, a complaint alleging such discrimination. The date of the postmark, facsimile transmittal, phone call, or email communication will be considered to be the date of filing. If the complaint is filed in person, by hand-delivery, or other means, the complaint is filed upon receipt.

(4) No particular form of complaint is required, and complaints may be filed in person, in writing, or over the telephone. If oral, the complaint shall be reduced to writing by the WHD official who receives the complaint. The complaint shall set forth sufficient facts for the Administrator to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation as described in paragraph (a) of this section has been committed and, therefore, that an investigation is warranted.