6.4 Whistleblowing

Question 1

Whistleblowing

Answer 1

A person reporting certain types of wrongdoing they have noticed at their workplace.
Must be in the public interest.

Expose unlawful and unethical activity in organisations.

Question 2

Blowing the whistle effects on the organisation and people that work there

Answer 2

Could create mistrust and a culture of suspicion.
Can destroy working relationships

• making a sacrifice and it can be hard to confine working for the organisation even if job is protected by the law.

Potential whistleblower will have to choose between truth and loyalty

Question 3

Protection of whistleblowers

Answer 3

Law ensure that you will not lose you job or be treated unfairly because you disclosed information.

Protect by law if you report:
- A criminal offence (fraud)
- Danger to health and safety
- risk or actual damage to their environment
- Miscarriage of justice
- Transgression of the law by the employer
- Wrongdoing being covered up

Question 4

Reporting wrongdoing in workplace

Answer 4

Encourage staff to raise their concerns internally to the HR department or head of compliance.

This gives them the chance to keep the issue within the organisation and a chance to deal with it.
The organisation might not do anything about it and may cover it up.

If staff feel like this, they will report it externally.

Staff can report to an external body such as professional body, a regulator or independent agency.

Question 5

Speak out - CBI service for its member

Answer 5

Members can get advised if they phase a professional ethical dilemma

This can be report wrongdoing or raise a concern or can be about finding out how to raise a concern.

Speak out provides an alternative route for members to air their professional concerns and receive sign posting support about workplace issue.