The Occupational Safety and Health Administration last week issued an interim final rule establishing procedures and time frames for handling retaliation complaints under the Consumer Financial Protection Act.

Enacted in July 2010, the Consumer Financial Protection Act protects employees against retaliation by entities that offer or provide consumer financial products or services, including:

Residential mortgages;

Mortgage loan modification and foreclosure relief services;

Private education loans;

Payday loans; and

Consumer credit and debt relief services.

This interim final rule establishes procedures, burdens of proof, remedies and statutes of limitations similar to other whistleblower protection statutes that OSHA administers.

OSHA has also developed a new fact sheet, “Filing Whistleblower Complaints under the Consumer Financial Protection Act.” The fact sheet explains who is covered under the Act; what constitutes protected activity; types of retaliation; and the process for filing a complaint.

Comments on the interim final rule should be submitted to OSHA no later than June 2.