Office Secrets - Thinking of Being a Whistle-blower?

BEING a whistle-blower is far from easy.

Take the case of Edward Snowden, for example. After revealing some highly classified information about the US Government he remains, according to Wikipedia, living in an undisclosed location in Moscow, and continuing to seek asylum elsewhere in the world.

So why is it that some people are willing to risk their positions and sometimes, in extreme cases even their lives, in order to bring sensitive information to public notice?

According to R. Scott Oswald, writing on the Corporate Compliance website, most people do it because they think it is the right thing to do, and also because they believe it will have more positive effects than negative ones.

Of course, ‘outing’ a person for inappropriate, corrupt or dishonest behaviour or revealing sensitive information generally, can be a ‘double-edged’ sword for the whistle-blower.

He or she may be ‘labelled’ by the organisation for their actions, and in some cases this can make it more difficult for them to find another job later on.

Some whistle-blowers may even face retaliation for their honesty (as in the case of Snowden), lose their job, or in less serious cases, be given less responsible roles at work.

Another area to consider as a whistle-blower is the financial effect of your actions, as it may involve court appearances at your own expense, not to mention the emotional toll it can take on both you and your family.

In some cases, the stress of being a whistle-blower can push a personal relationship to breaking point, or turn some of your so-called ‘friends’ and colleagues against you, as they ‘take sides’ on the issue.

Oswald says it is vitally important to consider all of these factors before deciding to ‘go out on a limb’.

Fortunately, being a whistle-blower is not all ‘doom and gloom’.

There are, of course, many positives to exposing corruption or dishonesty within the working environment.

These include:

1. It is the right thing to do

If you find yourself unable to sleep at night because of what is going on at work – and you have already done your best to bring it to the attention of those in charge – then becoming a whistle-blower may be the only option. By taking the matter further, not only will you help solve a serious problem, but you will also (by doing your duty), help ease the burden you have placed upon yourself

2. Helps to protect other whistle-blowers

By going through with things, and exposing the problem to the outside world, you provide valuable impetus for others at the organisation to take action if needed. This is the case especially if your actions result in the organisation punishing or removing the wrong doers. Also, you can then hold your head up high, knowing that what you did made a real difference

3. You may get financial compensation

As a whistle-blower there are laws in place to protect you from punishment for reporting wrongdoing. These laws are designed to encourage whistle-blowers to speak up more readily. Indeed, the Australian Government recently tabled a Bill in Parliament aimed at improving protection for whistle-blowers in the corporate, financial, credit and tax sectors. This may also include financial compensation for legal costs or emotional damage incurred from bringing nefarious activities to light.

4. Patience is a virtue

Lastly, remember that patience is a virtue if you are a whistle-blower.

This is because the outcome of your revelations may take a long time to be resolved. Therefore do not expect things to happen quickly, especially if legal proceedings are involved. However, in the long run, you will know you have done the right thing, and this is something that drives nearly every whistle-blower in their search for honesty and justice.