McNett v. Hardin Comm. Fed. Credit Union, Unpublished Decision (12-20-2004)

# McNett v. Hardin Community Federal Credit Union **What Happened** McNett worked at Hardin Community Federal Credit Union and claimed he was fired in retaliation for raising concerns about illegal activities. He reported these issues to federal regulators (the NCUA) rather than first reporting them internally to the credit union's management. **What the Court Decided** The appeals court ruled against McNett. The court found that Ohio's whistleblower law requires employees to report problems through their company's internal process first before going outside to regulators. Because McNett skipped the internal reporting step, he didn't qualify for whistleblower protection, even though he may have raised legitimate concerns. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that timing and process matter when reporting workplace problems. If you work in Ohio and believe your employer is breaking the law, you may need to follow your company's internal complaint procedures before contacting outside authorities like regulators. Skipping this step could cost you legal protection if you're later fired. Workers should understand their employer's reporting procedures and document when concerns are raised internally.