Whistle Blowing
Story of Steely McBean, Whistle Blower
Employment Law
April 15, 2014
By
Penelope Brady &
Tara
According to George Kerevan, “Word of the Week” columnist for The Scotsman, “The etymological origins of whistle blowing are gloriously obscure.” Yet even without knowing the term’s pedigree, we get a vivid picture from the words themselves. Kerevan suggests the obvious one, a police officer shrilling on a whistle when he or she catches a crime in progress. Whistle blowing means calling attention to wrongdoing that is occurring within an organization. The Government Accountability Project lists four ways to blow the whistle:
Reporting wrongdoing or a violation of the law to the proper authorities.
Such as a supervisor, a hotline or an Inspector General
Refusing to participate in workplace wrongdoing
Testifying in a legal proceeding
Leaking evidence of wrongdoing to the media
“Whistle-blowing is the notification by an employee to management about a co-worker’s unlawful activities or to the appropriate federal and state agencies about the employers illegal activities.” (Moran101). Whistle-blowing can put the employee in a very uncomfortable position. It is a noble and ethical act that sometimes requires a courageous effort on the part of an employee. Often time’s whistle-blowers are labeled as the troublemakers and treated with disdain by management and co-workers for the disruption they cause. Although some authorities encourage whistle-blowing, more could be done to protect those who risk their jobs for the truth to be known. But, on the other hand, some workers whistle-blow as an act of spite or revenge. They may fabricate the event or blow it out of proportion. “The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 was enacted to safeguard workers who report major violations of the law from being discharged or otherwise retaliated against by their employers” (Moran101). To qualify for whistle-blower protection, an employee must provide a written
Employment Law
April 15, 2014
By
Penelope Brady &
Tara
According to George Kerevan, “Word of the Week” columnist for The Scotsman, “The etymological origins of whistle blowing are gloriously obscure.” Yet even without knowing the term’s pedigree, we get a vivid picture from the words themselves. Kerevan suggests the obvious one, a police officer shrilling on a whistle when he or she catches a crime in progress. Whistle blowing means calling attention to wrongdoing that is occurring within an organization. The Government Accountability Project lists four ways to blow the whistle:
Reporting wrongdoing or a violation of the law to the proper authorities.
Such as a supervisor, a hotline or an Inspector General
Refusing to participate in workplace wrongdoing
Testifying in a legal proceeding
Leaking evidence of wrongdoing to the media
“Whistle-blowing is the notification by an employee to management about a co-worker’s unlawful activities or to the appropriate federal and state agencies about the employers illegal activities.” (Moran101). Whistle-blowing can put the employee in a very uncomfortable position. It is a noble and ethical act that sometimes requires a courageous effort on the part of an employee. Often time’s whistle-blowers are labeled as the troublemakers and treated with disdain by management and co-workers for the disruption they cause. Although some authorities encourage whistle-blowing, more could be done to protect those who risk their jobs for the truth to be known. But, on the other hand, some workers whistle-blow as an act of spite or revenge. They may fabricate the event or blow it out of proportion. “The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 was enacted to safeguard workers who report major violations of the law from being discharged or otherwise retaliated against by their employers” (Moran101). To qualify for whistle-blower protection, an employee must provide a written
References: "DWPP Home Page." DWPP Home Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. "F.B.I. to Pay Whistle-Blower $1.1 Million in a Settlement." The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 Feb. 1998. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. Moore, Thad. "Justin Hopson, Who Shook up New Jersey State Police, Advocates for Doing the Right Thing." The Post and Courier. N.p., 27 May 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. Moran, John J. "Whistle-Blowing." Employment Law: New Challenges In the Business Enviroment. 6th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 100-01. Print. "National Whistleblowers Center - Know Your Rights FAQ." National Whistleblowers Center - Know Your Rights FAQ. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. "Whistle-Blowing." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1. Literary Reference Center. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.