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Infosys whistleblower taking on company again

By WTOP Staff

LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ
Associated Press

The whistleblower who helped trigger a federal investigation into visa practices by the global outsourcing tech firm Infosys is taking on his former company again in court, and this time he’s naming top executives in his lawsuit.

Former Infosys Ltd. employee Jay Palmer filed a retaliation complaint with the Department of Labor in March, the first step to suing the company. He filed his lawsuit late last week in New Jersey federal court, where former Infosys executive Jeffrey Friedel lives. Most other top company officials are in India, where firm is headquartered.

Infosys denies the charges of retaliation and says the new case is without legal merit. “Palmer resigned in 2013 November and released the company from the charges he has alleged in the complaint,” it said in a statement.

U.S. tech workers have pushed back in recent years against Infosys and other similar firms’ business models of outsourcing other companies’ high tech jobs overseas. They have also increasingly criticized the firms’ reliance on generally cheaper, temporary visa workers to handle high tech jobs in the United States, arguing qualified U.S. workers are being unfairly displaced by the government’s immigration policy.

In this complaint, Palmer argues he was pressured to resign, and the company continues to retaliate against him by refusing to rehire him. Under the federal whistleblower law, Palmer is allowed to sue not just the company but also the people who run it.

“I am not going away in this matter, the United States has laws to protect whistleblowers,” Palmer said Monday. “Once you help the government, as I did, a person has rights.”

Last year, Infosys agreed to a $34 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over allegations it misused short-term business visas to bring in temporary tech workers. Prosecutors had accused Infosys of illegally hiring the workers out to corporate clients and then paying them in local currencies rather than dollars. Infosys admitted no wrongdoing. The settlement left open the door for further investigation by other federal entities such as the IRS and the Security and Exchange Commission.

Much of the federal government’s visa case developed from an earlier lawsuit filed by Palmer, who lives in Alabama. That case named only the company.

A federal judge dismissed that case in 2012 since Alabama law doesn’t protect against the types of retaliation Palmer claimed. The new case is brought under the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act’s whistleblower protections. Infosys says the case is a repetition of the 2012 one.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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