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    Business Ethics q4

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    Wasif
    The document discusses potential problems for both the whistleblower and the organization from whistleblowing. For the whistleblower, they may face retaliation from those accused of wrongdoing, damage to their reputation, loss of employment and career, health and relationship issues, and an uphill legal battle if they sue the organization. For the organization, whistleblowing can result in negative publicity, costly litigation, loss of talented employees, greater employee acquiescence to avoid reprisals, and in some cases revelations that cause significant damage to the organization. While whistleblowing aims to protect the public, the process and aftermath can be difficult for both parties.

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Business Ethics q4

    Uploaded by

    Wasif
    69 views4 pages
    The document discusses potential problems for both the whistleblower and the organization from whistleblowing. For the whistleblower, they may face retaliation from those accused of wrongdoing, damage to their reputation, loss of employment and career, health and relationship issues, and an uphill legal battle if they sue the organization. For the organization, whistleblowing can result in negative publicity, costly litigation, loss of talented employees, greater employee acquiescence to avoid reprisals, and in some cases revelations that cause significant damage to the organization. While whistleblowing aims to protect the public, the process and aftermath can be difficult for both parties.

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    business ethics q4

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    The document discusses potential problems for both the whistleblower and the organization from whistleblowing. For the whistleblower, they may face retaliation from those accused of wrongdoing, damage to their reputation, loss of employment and career, health and relationship issues, and an uphill legal battle if they sue the organization. For the organization, whistleblowing can result in negative publicity, costly litigation, loss of talented employees, greater employee acquiescence to avoid reprisals, and in some cases revelations that cause significant damage to the organization. While whistleblowing aims to protect the public, the process and aftermath can be difficult for both parties.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    69 views4 pages

    Business Ethics q4

    Uploaded by

    Wasif
    The document discusses potential problems for both the whistleblower and the organization from whistleblowing. For the whistleblower, they may face retaliation from those accused of wrongdoing, damage to their reputation, loss of employment and career, health and relationship issues, and an uphill legal battle if they sue the organization. For the organization, whistleblowing can result in negative publicity, costly litigation, loss of talented employees, greater employee acquiescence to avoid reprisals, and in some cases revelations that cause significant damage to the organization. While whistleblowing aims to protect the public, the process and aftermath can be difficult for both parties.

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    What are some problems that could be associated with employee whistle blowing for

    A) The whistle blower


    B) The organization

    Whistle Blowing

    When a person passes on information concerning wrongdoing is known Whistle blowing. We

    can also call that “making a disclosure”. The wrongdoing will typically (although not

    necessarily) be something they have witnessed at work. The disclosure by a person, usually an

    employee in an organization, to the authority, about mismanagement, corruption, illegality, or

    some other wrongdoing.

    It is good to practice whistle blowing to create an open, transparent and safe working

    environment where workers feel able to speak up. Although the laws does not require employers

    to have a whistle blowing policy in place, the existence of a whistle blowing policy shows an

    employer’s commitment to the concern of workers. By having clear policies and procedures for

    dealing with whistle blowing, an organization can bring information to the attention of

    management.

    The whistle blower

    Whistle blower is one who reveals wrongdoing within an organization to the authority. This wrongdoing

    can be many types: violation of company policy/rules, law, and corruption.

    Those who become whistleblowers can choose to bring information either internally or externally.

    Internally, a whistleblower can bring his/her accusations to the attention of other people within the

    accused organization. Externally, a whistleblower can bring allegations to light by contacting a third party
    outside of an accused organization. Sometimes whistleblowers also face retaliation from those who are

    accused of wrongdoing.

    The whistle-blower serves a vital function in organization. When organization step over legal and ethical

    lines, whistle-blowers can make these practices public knowledge, which can lead to violators being held

    accountable. The added scrutiny that comes with criminal investigations, civil lawsuits and media

    attention can influence the behavior of similar organizations. Companies offices that engage in similar

    misconduct may have previously believed they could get away with their bad behavior.

    The whistleblower, who has stepped forward to tell the truth, despite a mix of emotions and fears.

    Feelings of disloyalty are at war with those of obligation and, possibly, outrage at something very wrong

    in the company and frustration that no one seems to want to listen.

    Fear of bad publicity, expensive litigation and loss of business can make a company hostile and defensive,

    usually at the expense of the whistleblower's personal or professional reputation. The individual' s

    coworkers get suspicious and angry because their expertise or ethics may be suspect. The

    whistleblower's family becomes anxious and insecure.

    If that employee has blown the whistle not only on his or her boss but also on the company by taking the

    case outside to other authorities or to the media, the harsh truth is that this represents a failure on

    everybody's part. It means the organization had not allowed the normal use of communications from the

    bottom up and that reporting procedures had not worked or that the whistleblower had not found them

    to be receptive.

    The damage to whistleblowers is extensive. Many lose their jobs and economic impact is enormous.

    Health and relationship problems are common. Many are forced out of their field and are unable to

    begin a new career.


    Another problem is that the whistleblower, usually a lone individual, has to confront the full power of

    the organization. A dismissed whistleblower who takes the employer to court for wrongful dismissal has

    to spend large amounts of money on lawyers while surviving without a salary, confronting an

    organization with virtually unlimited funds and time. The scales are heavily tilted against the

    whistleblower.

    The Organization

    The attention that a whistle-blower case brings, both to the employee and the company, can have a

    downside. One of the principle reasons to blow the whistle on illegal or unethical activities is to protect

    the public, colleagues or others from risk. The more immediate and the more significant the risk, the

    more important to take action efficiently. When companies engage in activities that could cause physical

    or mental harm to people, or environmental damage, many believe it is your duty to make those

    activities known.

    There is also great damage to the organization. A talented employee is damaged or lost. There may be

    extensive legal or compensation costs. Reprisals against whistleblowers send a powerful message to

    other employees, speak out and will suffer. The result is often greater acquiescence to managerial

    directives. And this may be the biggest cost of all.

    Whistleblowers can cause a sort of pain to organizations. Sometimes their warnings are misguided, at

    others, their concerns point to deeper problems. Sometime, brought down the organization.

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