To Blow or not to Blow?

Would you blow the whistle on a boss embezzling funds who had been and continues to be incredibly supportive? Would you be willing to risk your job? What will happen if you do nothing and the scam is eventually uncovered? How do you then manage the risk of being considered either as an accomplice or as an incompetent, neither which would be good for your career? So do you blow or not blow the proverbial whistle, that is the question.

In this Age of Entitlement, we are surrounded by people who believe that they have a right to the 'good life' - a well paid job, a grand home, preferential treatment, a fancy car - and they want it NOW. Many who cannot get it honestly will take it in any which way they can. Whistle-blowing is proving to be a powerful and effective tool to stop these sybarites in their tracks. It is becoming internationally recognised as a way to fight unlawful and harmful conduct that is permeating the globe.

Whistle-blowing is any activity that discloses information, considered to be in the public interest, pertaining to: criminal activity; improper or unauthorised use of public and other funds; miscarriage of justice; abuse of power; maladministration; danger to the health or safety of any individual; the violation of a law, breaking of a rule, regulation. Or a contravention of any statute; a direct threat to public interest due to activities such as fraud, environmental or health/safety violations, or clear evidence of corruption.

Traditionally telling tales is not a quality that will help you make friends and influence people. Our society shuns such actions. As children we are ostracised if we 'tell' on the misbehaviour of our friends, and society frowns on those who 'kiss-and-tell'. Yet employees who are willing to blow the whistle are a company's (and society's) best defence against violations, regulatory offences and corruption. Having said this, when employees do take action to disclose such illegal or unethical practice, they are met with fierce retaliation from management because they are regarded as illegitimate deviants who threaten the reputation and profitability of the organisation.
It takes tremendous personal courage to blow the whistle. Whistle-blowers can expect to suffer in a number of ways. At first the harassment is subtle - the whistle-blower is routinely denied days off and asked to cover for employees who are out. Co-workers keep their distance, and supervisors begin criticizing his/her work. Later they may face public humiliation, isolation, career freezing, firing, blacklisting, transfer, even personal harassment and sexual exploitation, in an attempt to discredit and destroy them. About half of all whistleblowers get fired, half of those fired will lose their homes, and most of those will then lose their families too, says C. Fred Alford, author of Whistleblowers: Broken Lives and Organizational Power. Whistleblowers are often described as disgruntled employees who embark upon a personal vendetta, or as traitors, disloyal informers or squealers.

The decision to blow the whistle should come from an appropriate moral motive and not from personal reasons such as jealousy or grudge. All available internal procedures to rectify the problem must be used first before resorting to public disclosure. Only report a violation that is seriously dangerous to people, profit or planet. Finally have 'evidence that would persuade a reasonable person' and make sure that you report the event to someone who is not involved in it. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke) - lets all do our part and blow the whistle!