Presented By:-Komal Singh-15020241059

Akshay Saraff-15020241013Namrata Manglik-15020241133

Dhruv Puri-15020241043

Whistle Blowing

What is whistle blowing????Whistle blowing in its most general form involves calling(public)attention to wrong

doing, typically in order to avert harm. Whistle blowing is an attempt by a member or former member of an organization to disclose wrong doing in or by the organization.e.g.:- Wikileaks, Jeffrey Wigand, “The Insider”, Karen Silkwood, “Silkwood” Definition of whistleblower:-

A whistleblower is an employee, former employee, or member of an organization, especially a business or government agency, who reports misconduct to people or entities that have the power and presumed willingness to take corrective action.

Purpose of whistle blowing:- To draw attention to unethical, inappropriate or incompetent conduct which has or may

have detrimental effects either for the institution or for those affected by its functions.

It extends to situations where an individual believes that an activity is harmful while others involved are not aware of it or reject the perception that is involved.

The whistleblowers are prepared to take full responsibility for their actions.

Implies a concern for the preservation of ethical values which overrides a concern for self-preservation.

Whistleblowers open themselves to the risk of losing personal and financial security, counter-accusation and alienation and yet they feel compelled to make the disclosure and to stand by it.

Types of whistle blowing:-

InternalPersonal

Impersonal

Internal Whistle blowing is made to someone within the organization.

Personal Whistle blowing is blowing the whistle on the offender, here the charge is not against the organization or system but against one individual.

The impersonal, is the external whistle blower.

Stages of whistle blowing:-

Stage one -- Is there a potential whistle- blowing scenario?

Stage two -- Seriousness test

Stage three -- Reality check

Stage four -- Becoming aware of the big picture

Stage five -- Forcing management recognition of the problem

Stage six -- Taking the problem to upper management

Stage seven -- Going outside the organization

Stage eight -- Living with the Results

Effects of whistleblowing:-

• Forced to leave organization/demotion

• Credibility ruined

• Family, health, and/or life in jeopardy

• Outrage and divisiveness of people

directly or indirectly involved

• Physical or psychological isolation.

• Organization experiences loss of

money, restitution, productivity, and

positive reputations.

• Incarceration.

• When the employee identifies a serious threat of harm, he or she should report it and state his or her moral concern.

• The employee must have documented evidence that is convincing to a reasonable, impartial observer that his or her view of the situation is accurate and evidence that the firm’s practice, product or policy seriously threatens and puts in danger the public or product user.

• The employee must have valid reasons to believe that revealing the wrongdoing to the public will result in the changes necessary to remedy the situation.

When is Whistle-blowing ethical?

When is Whistle-blowing unethical?Whistle-blowing must be questioned if:

• Motivation is the opportunity for financial gain or media attention

• Employee is carrying out a vendetta against the company

• Key point – better be very sure of your facts and your evidence better be irrefutable before blowing the whistle

Advantages & Disadvantages

• Whistle blowing leads to good results.

• Severe damage to the environment has been stopped by the actions.

• The actions of whistle blowers are potentially beneficial to society.

• Exposing unethical behavior

• Legal Protection

• Diminishes Trust in the Workplace

• Can Negatively Affect Your Career

• Can Destroy the Company

• Risk to Personal Safety

Role of an HR Manager• Keep employees on a behavioral track that is acceptable in the eyes of the law, of

key stakeholders and the directions of senior management.

• They can undertake internal audits, exit interviews, opinion surveys, legal compliance monitoring systems, and direct whistleblowing mechanisms.

• includes confidential phone hotlines and write-ins where employees can anonymously report their concerns and suspicions.

• Educating managers about legal processes and training them to investigate grievances thoroughly and objectively is prerequisite to a diligent response. 

WikiLeaks FounderJulian Assange is an Australian publisher and journalist. He is the controversial founder of the whistleblower website WikiLeaks which releases sensitive and or classified documents which have embarrassed leaders worldwide.

Julian Paul Assange

WikiLeaks has been involved in the publication of material documenting extrajudicial killings in Kenya, a report of toxic waste dumping on the coast of Côte

d'Ivoire, Church of Scientology manuals, Guantanamo Bay detention camp procedures, the 12

July 2007 Baghdad airstrike video, and material involving large banks such as Kaupthing and Julius

Baer among other documents.

WikiLeaks became internationally well

known in 2010 when it began to publish U.S.

military and diplomatic documents with

assistance from its partners in the news

media. 

Conclusion:- A whistle blowing incident is probably the most emotionally difficult thing you can

experience as a professional.

Not every incident that should result in whistle blowing does, sometimes the whistle is “swallowed” rather than blown.

In some cases, there are federal and state laws meant to provide protection for the whistle blowers.

If you find yourself in a possible whistle-blowing incident, you should exhaust all internal alternatives for addressing the problem and accumulate all documentation possible. If blowing the whistle becomes the only alternative, then you should anticipate a job change and you should get good legal representation.