Whistleblowing(2021)

Question 1

What is

Whistleblowing?

Answer 1

Whistleblowing refers to

employees reporting their company’s dangerous or illegal acts to regulatory agencies or the press

Question 2

Laws that protect

Whistleblowers (2)

Answer 2

False Claims Act (against fraud)

You act on behalf of the government, get a percentage of settlement, government is required to investigate

Whistleblower Protection Act

Protects against retaliation from the company

Question 3

Things that happen to

Whistleblowers

Answer 3

• Whistleblower
  
  • Tries to report harmful situation through authorized channels (doesn’t always work)
  • Rebuffed by organization
  • Makes disclosure through unauthorized channels
• Whistleblowers are often punished for their actions
  
  • Lose job or any chance at advancement
  • Financial and emotional hardship

Question 4

Motives of

Whistleblowers

Answer 4

• There are many different reasons why one might become a whistleblower
• Morality of action may depend on motives
• Good Motives:
  
  • Desire to help the public
• Questionable motives:
  
  • Retaliation
  • Avoiding punishment

Question 5

Public Responses

to

Whistleblowers

Answer 5

• Whistleblowers are disloyal
• Whistleblowing has many harms
  
  • Bad publicity
  • Disruption of organization’s social fabric
  • Makes it hard for people to work as a team
• If the company causes harm, then public can use legal remedies to seek damages

Question 6

Richard DeGeorge’s

Questions for Whistleblowing

Answer 6

• Is serious harm to the public at stake?
• Have you told your manager?
• Have you tried every possible inside channel?
• Do you have persuasive documented evidence?
• Are you sure whistleblowing will work?

Question 7

Richard DeGeorge:

When should you blow the whistle?

Answer 7

• If all five conditions are met - obligation to do it
• Others: If conditions 1-3 are met, then it’s ok
• Still others: Whistleblowing is never morally required