Florida Statute 448.101 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXI
LABOR

Chapter 448
GENERAL LABOR REGULATIONS

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F.S. 448.101

448.101 Definitions.—As used in ss. 448.101-448.105, the term:

(1) “Appropriate governmental agency” means any agency of government charged with the enforcement of laws, rules, or regulations governing an activity, policy, or practice of an employer.

(2) “Employee” means a person who performs services for and under the control and direction of an employer for wages or other remuneration. The term does not include an independent contractor.

(3) “Employer” means any private individual, firm, partnership, institution, corporation, or association that employs ten or more persons.

(4) “Law, rule, or regulation” includes any statute or ordinance or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to any federal, state, or local statute or ordinance applicable to the employer and pertaining to the business.

(5) “Retaliatory personnel action” means the discharge, suspension, or demotion by an employer of an employee or any other adverse employment action taken by an employer against an employee in the terms and conditions of employment.

(6) “Supervisor” means any individual within an employer’s organization who has the authority to direct and control the work performance of the affected employee or who has managerial authority to take corrective action regarding the violation of law, rule, or regulation of which the employee complains.

History.—s. 4, ch. 91-285.

F.S. 448.101 on Google Scholar

F.S. 448.101 on CourtListener

Amendments to 448.101

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 448.101

Total Results: 56

Marc Wiersum v. U.S. Bank, N.A.

785 F.3d 483, 40 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 14, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 7436, 2015 WL 2058892

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: May 5, 2015 | Docket: 2654739

Cited 100 times | Published

the Florida Whistle-blower’s Act, Fla. Stat. § 448.101-.105. If the majority is right, those three words

Arrow Air, Inc. v. Walsh

645 So. 2d 422, 19 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 592, 10 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 84, 1994 Fla. LEXIS 1806, 1994 WL 643760

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 17, 1994 | Docket: 1167713

Cited 74 times | Published

at §§ 448.101-.105, Fla. Stat. (1993). [2] Section 448.101(5), Florida Statutes (1993), defines "retaliatory

Myers v. CENTRAL FLORIDA INVESTMENTS, INC.

592 F.3d 1201, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 232, 108 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 111, 2010 WL 20987

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Jan 6, 2010 | Docket: 1152239

Cited 51 times | Published

Whistleblower Act ("Whistleblower Act"), Fla. Stat. § 448.101-105, and negligent retention and supervision,

Golf Channel v. Jenkins

752 So. 2d 561, 25 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 31, 15 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1574, 2000 Fla. LEXIS 9, 2000 WL 31834

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 13, 2000 | Docket: 1279983

Cited 38 times | Published

employee in the terms and conditions of employment." § 448.101(5), Fla. Stat. (1995). [2] See also Park v. First

Snow v. Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster

896 So. 2d 787, 36 A.L.R. 6th 845, 22 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 873, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 266, 2005 WL 280337

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 19, 2005 | Docket: 1683484

Cited 26 times | Published

A. Ms. Snow's suit alleged a violation of section 448.101(2)-(3), Florida Statutes (1999), part of what

Aery v. Wallace Lincoln-Mercury, LLC

118 So. 3d 904, 2013 WL 3924091, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 11992

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 31, 2013 | Docket: 60233472

Cited 22 times | Published

complaint, in which he alleged one violation of section 448.101-105, Florida Statutes (2005), also known as

Patterson v. Downtown Medical & Diagnostic Center, Inc.

866 F. Supp. 1379, 3 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1345, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15421, 1994 WL 594406

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 25, 1994 | Docket: 808747

Cited 16 times | Published

violation of the Florida Whistle-blower's Act § 448.101-105." Defendant argues that this portion of Plaintiff's

Morin v. Florida Power & Light Co.

963 So. 2d 258, 26 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 578, 2007 Fla. App. LEXIS 10979, 2007 WL 2043458

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 18, 2007 | Docket: 1697494

Cited 13 times | Published

Whistleblower Act ("Whistleblower Act" or "Act"), section 448.101, et seq., Florida Statutes (2005). We affirm

Baiton v. Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.

661 So. 2d 313, 11 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 57, 1996 A.M.C. 107, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 8904, 1995 WL 497113

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 23, 1995 | Docket: 532506

Cited 13 times | Published

Florida's private sector whistle-blower statute, section 448.101-.105, Florida Statutes (1993). After careful

Padron v. BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc.

196 F. Supp. 2d 1250, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6766, 2002 WL 553153

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 2, 2002 | Docket: 2381578

Cited 12 times | Published

terms and conditions of employment. Fla.Stat. § 448.101(5) [emphasis added]. Plaintiff's harassment claim

Ruiz v. Aerorep Group Corp.

941 So. 2d 505, 2006 WL 3208839

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 8, 2006 | Docket: 664342

Cited 10 times | Published

Florida's Private Sector Whistleblower's Act, § 448.101, et seq., Fla. Stat. (2003)("Whistleblower's Act")

Allocco v. City of Coral Gables

221 F. Supp. 2d 1317, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16563, 2002 WL 2002408

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Aug 23, 2002 | Docket: 2017302

Cited 10 times | Published

Under Florida Law Florida's private (Fla. Stat. § 448.101 et seq.) and public-sector (Fla.Stat. § 112.3187)

Kearns v. Farmer Acquisition Company

157 So. 3d 458, 39 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1384, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 1782, 2015 WL 574007

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 11, 2015 | Docket: 2633529

Cited 9 times | Published

the employer and pertaining to the business.” § 448.101(4). Thus, it must be a legislatively enacted law

Tyson v. Viacom, Inc.

760 So. 2d 276, 2000 WL 726422

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 7, 2000 | Docket: 1324986

Cited 9 times | Published

body of law but instead only to positive law. Section 448.101(4) states that the statutory term law, rule

Diaz v. Impex of Doral, Inc.

7 So. 3d 591, 29 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 498, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 2223, 2009 WL 690638

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 18, 2009 | Docket: 1654867

Cited 8 times | Published

that an employer employ ten or more persons. See § 448.101(3), Fla. Stat. (2002). However, he argued that

Fromm-Vane v. Lawnwood Medical Center, Inc.

995 F. Supp. 1471, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22085, 1997 WL 854500

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Dec 12, 1997 | Docket: 2517587

Cited 8 times | Published

the Florida Whistle-Blower's Act, Fla. Stat. § 448.101 et seq., the Court determines that the whistle-blower's

NEW WORLD COMMUNICATION OF TAMPA, INC. v. Akre

866 So. 2d 1231, 2003 WL 327505

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 14, 2003 | Docket: 1680147

Cited 7 times | Published

the employer and pertaining to the business." § 448.101(4), Fla. Stat. (1997). We agree with WTVT that

Robinson v. Jewish Center Towers, Inc.

993 F. Supp. 1475, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2547, 1998 WL 97291

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Feb 27, 1998 | Docket: 2172666

Cited 7 times | Published

3730(h), and the Florida Whistleblower's Act, Section 448.101, et seq., pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

Walsh v. Arrow Air, Inc.

629 So. 2d 144, 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 12100

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 7, 1993 | Docket: 1677370

Cited 7 times | Published

regulation. In defining terms used in the chapter, section 448.101(4), provides that any law, rule, or regulation

Rivera v. Torfino Enterprises, Inc.

914 So. 2d 1087, 23 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1415, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 18803, 98 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 766, 2005 WL 3179984

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 30, 2005 | Docket: 12959

Cited 6 times | Published

83, 87 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999)). Florida Statute section 448.101 et. seq. is Florida's private sector Whistleblower's

Hall v. Teva Pharmaceutical USA, Inc.

214 F. Supp. 3d 1281, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135853, 2016 WL 5661630

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Sep 30, 2016 | Docket: 64310854

Cited 5 times | Published

private-sector whistle-blower’s act, Fla. Stat. § 448.101 et seq. (“FWA”) (Count III). Plaintiff was employed

Luna v. Walgreen Co.

575 F. Supp. 2d 1326, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95414, 2008 WL 4150221

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Aug 22, 2008 | Docket: 1619148

Cited 5 times | Published

Florida Whistleblower's Act (FWA), Fla. Stat. § 448.101, et seq. In Count I, Ms. Luna alleges that Walgreens

Selim v. Pan American Airways Corp.

889 So. 2d 149, 177 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2043, 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 18779, 2004 WL 2823219

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 8, 2004 | Docket: 1488438

Cited 5 times | Published

Florida Whistleblower Act, Florida Statutes section 448.101, for retaliatory termination. Pan Am then filed

Dahl v. Eckerd Family Youth Alternatives, Inc.

843 So. 2d 956, 2003 WL 1876973

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 16, 2003 | Docket: 1670613

Cited 5 times | Published

association that employs ten or more persons." § 448.101(3). On its face Ms. Dahl's complaint without question

Schroeder v. Crowley Maritime Corp.

825 F. Supp. 1007, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9326, 1993 WL 249098

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Jun 22, 1993 | Docket: 875591

Cited 5 times | Published

This is an action brought pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 448.101 et seq., which prohibits an employer from taking

Nova Southeastern University, Inc. v. Jacobson

25 So. 3d 82, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 20008, 2009 WL 4928032

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 23, 2009 | Docket: 1196340

Cited 4 times | Published

violative of the Florida Whistleblower Act, section 448.101, Florida Statutes. She alleged that Nova had

Lane v. Capital Acquisitions

242 F.R.D. 667, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45269, 2005 WL 5543891

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Aug 12, 2005 | Docket: 66030420

Cited 4 times | Published

as-setting a retaliation claim under Fla. Stat. § 448.101 (the "Whistle Blower Act”). Plaintiffs' First

Molenda v. Hoechst Celanese Corp.

60 F. Supp. 2d 1294, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13062, 1999 WL 613325

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Mar 16, 1999 | Docket: 41503

Cited 4 times | Published

terms and conditions of employment." Fla.Stat. § 448.101(5). "Law, rule, or regulation" refers to "any

Wallace v. School Bd. of Orange County, Fla.

41 F. Supp. 2d 1321, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22168, 1998 WL 1032572

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Dec 15, 1998 | Docket: 2283932

Cited 4 times | Published

that employs ten or more persons." Fla.Stat. § 448.101(3). The plaintiff does not dispute that the School

Forrester v. John H. Phipps, Inc.

643 So. 2d 1109, 1994 WL 478690

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 7, 1994 | Docket: 1493772

Cited 4 times | Published

its intended scope. The lower court viewed section 448.101-105 to be a type of "whistle-blower" act concerning

Roland v. FLORIDA EAST COAST RY., LLC

873 So. 2d 1271, 2004 WL 1196674

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 2, 2004 | Docket: 1732965

Cited 3 times | Published

violation of Florida's whistleblower statutes. See § 448.101-448.105, Fla. Stat. (2000).[1] The FEC successfully

Gillyard v. Delta Health Group, Inc.

757 So. 2d 601, 2000 WL 569942

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 12, 2000 | Docket: 1331004

Cited 3 times | Published

a law, rule or regulation as is defined in Section 448.101, F.S. and as used in Section 448.102, F.S.

Kubiak v. S.W. Cowboy, Inc.

164 F. Supp. 3d 1344, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19701, 2016 WL 659305

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Feb 18, 2016 | Docket: 64307098

Cited 2 times | Published

employer and pertaining to the business,” Fla. Stat. 448.101(4), a broad definition which presumably includes

Bonnafant v. Chico's FAS, Inc.

17 F. Supp. 3d 1196, 2014 WL 1664554, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 57849

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 25, 2014 | Docket: 64294777

Cited 2 times | Published

employer and pertaining to the business.” Fla. Stat. 448.101(4). In order to establish a prima facie case

Juarez v. New Branch Corp.

67 So. 3d 1159, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 12530, 2011 WL 3477034

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 10, 2011 | Docket: 60301939

Cited 2 times | Published

retaliatory personnel action to include termination. § 448.101(5), Fla. Stat. (2009). A “law rule, or regulation”

Bell v. Georgia-Pacific Corp.

390 F. Supp. 2d 1182, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28420, 2005 WL 1163105

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: May 17, 2005 | Docket: 37981

Cited 2 times | Published

employee in the terms and conditions of employment." § 448.101(5), Fla. Stat. (2004). [48] Gupta v. Fla. Bd

Tracey-Meddoff v. J. Altman Hair & Beauty

899 So. 2d 1167, 2005 WL 841680

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 13, 2005 | Docket: 1353750

Cited 2 times | Published

who has engaged *1168 in specified conduct. Section 448.101(3) defines "Employer" as any private individual

Cray v. NationsBank of North Carolina, N.A.

982 F. Supp. 850, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17400, 1997 WL 688802

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 21, 1997 | Docket: 1073082

Cited 2 times | Published

violation of the Florida Whistleblower Act, Section 448.101, Florida Statutes. After this case had been

CHARLES BARONE v. PALM BEACH HOTEL CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC.

262 So. 3d 767

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 12, 2018 | Docket: 8395143

Cited 1 times | Published

Florida’s Private Sector Whistleblower Act, section 448.101, et seq., Florida Statutes (2015). Even assuming

Diego v. Victory Lab, Inc.

282 F. Supp. 3d 1275

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 12, 2017 | Docket: 64316268

Cited 1 times | Published

include an independent contractor." Fla. Stat. § 448.101(2). Both parties in Scantland solely relied

Vaughn Usher v. Nipro Diabetes Systems, Inc., and Nipro Medical Corporation

184 So. 3d 1260, 2016 WL 717917

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 24, 2016 | Docket: 3038769

Cited 1 times | Published

the employer and pertaining to the business.” § 448.101(4), Fla. Stat. (2009). To state a claim under

Silverman v. Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc.

20 F. Supp. 3d 1357, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 69883, 2014 WL 2025166

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 3, 2014 | Docket: 64295014

Cited 1 times | Published

employs ten or more persons.” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 448.101. . Count III also fails to allege an agreement

Morales v. Florida Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission

106 So. 3d 81, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 1751, 2013 WL 440211

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 6, 2013 | Docket: 60228453

Cited 1 times | Published

been discharged by the employer for misconduct. § 448.101, Fla. Stat. (2011). Misconduct is defined, in

United States Ex Rel. Vargas v. Lackmann Food Service, Inc.

510 F. Supp. 2d 957, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 39924, 2007 WL 1601749

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Jun 1, 2007 | Docket: 2136517

Cited 1 times | Published

of Florida Whistleblower Act, Florida Statutes § 448.101 et seq. The Florida Whistleblower Act prohibits

St. Hilaire v. the Pep Boys-Manny, Moe and Jack

73 F. Supp. 2d 1350, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17762, 1999 WL 1051278

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Sep 2, 1999 | Docket: 2180558

Cited 1 times | Published

and the Florida Whistle Blower Act (Fla.Stat. § 448.101 et seq.) (hereafter Whistle Blower Act), by 1)

Allen Drozd v. Amatus Health, LLC

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 21, 2025 | Docket: 69766591

Published

employer and pertaining to the business.” Id. § 448.101(4). The law, rule, or regulation must have been

Gessner v. Southern Company and Gulf Power Company

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 20, 2024 | Docket: 69393185

Published

the employer and pertaining to the business.” § 448.101(4). Thus, it must be a legislatively enacted law

Christopher Ounjian v. Globoforce, Inc.

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Dec 12, 2023 | Docket: 67561725

Published

Argued: Sep 20, 2023

terms and conditions of employment.” Fla. Stat. § 448.101(5). To meet this requirement, the complaint

LE PUBLICATIONS, INC. v. RANDALL KOHL

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 27, 2020 | Docket: 17195209

Published

the employer and pertaining to the business.” § 448.101(4), Fla. Stat. (2005). To establish a prima

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases—report No. 17-04

230 So. 3d 815

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 22, 2017 | Docket: 6229119

Published

and adverse employment action are derived from F.S. 448.101(5) and case law. Donovan v. Broward Cnty. Bd

Sejour v. Steven Davis Farms, LLC

28 F. Supp. 3d 1216, 2014 WL 2961142, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89378

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Jul 1, 2014 | Docket: 64295773

Published

FLSA, the Florida Minimum Wage Act, Fla. Stat. § 448.101 et seq., and the federal H-2A regulations, 20

In re Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases—Report No. 2011-01 (Unlawful Retaliation)

95 So. 3d 106, 2012 WL 2848897

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jul 12, 2012 | Docket: 60311088

Published

instructions in this section are based upon F.S. 448.101-105 (Florida’s private-sector whistle-blower

James v. Wash Depot Holdings, Inc.

489 F. Supp. 2d 1336, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 61410, 2007 WL 1423759

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: May 14, 2007 | Docket: 2287661

Published

discretion to decline to award attorneys fees under § 448,101. b. Attorneys Fees under Fla. Stat § 768,79 Florida

DeSocio v. Sonic Automotive

894 So. 2d 1064, 2005 WL 263949

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 4, 2005 | Docket: 1767967

Published

that Sonic was the prevailing party under section 448.101 but nevertheless decided that Sonic should

McMillan v. Regeneration Technologies, Inc.

243 F. Supp. 2d 1324, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25362, 90 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 764, 2002 WL 31827952

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Nov 14, 2002 | Docket: 2285583

Published

County, 207 F.3d at 1314 n. 6. [55] Fla. Stat. § 448.101 et seq. [56] Doc. 1 (alleging that "the Defendant

Glenn v. Unemployment Appeals Commission

731 So. 2d 868, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 6827, 1999 WL 333146

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 27, 1999 | Docket: 64788048

Published

... for misconduct connected with his work.’ § 448.101(l)(a), Fla. Stat. (1995).” On this question, as