What is a whistleblower, you may ask? To put it simply, it is one who informs others of misdeeds in the workplace. The phrase may originate from sports referees who would use the blowing of a whistle to signify an unfair play, or from police officers who would also use whistles in order to alert others of a law being broken. Thus, a whistleblower came to be known as one who exposes information that is deemed illegal or unethical.
While the term "whistleblower" is a more good-hearted term than its equivalents such as "snitch" or "informer," the term still carries a feeling of uneasiness around it, not for the action itself - which is usually considered a good thing - but for the consequences and repercussions of said actions. Whistleblowers often receive retaliation from the workplace for their snitchiness, ranging from demotions to losing their jobs, and even their ability to be hired ever again. Thus, the term whistleblower is one employees tend to avoid, even when they know something is wrong and it needs to be shown to others. Numerous laws have been enacted to prevent employer retaliation, but the majority of workplaces tend to be silent out of fear regardless.
If you have any questions about whistleblowing or whistleblower protection, here's a site where you can learn more.
No comments:
Post a Comment