Lecture 7-Whistle Blowing

7/30/2019 Lecture 7-Whistle Blowing

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Whistle Blowing


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Action+Reason

Report a friend who was cheating on a quiz

Report to top management about a teacher who

gave marks as a special favor

Report a friend who didnt put his due share in

the group project


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What is Whistle Blowing?

An attempt by a member or former member ofan organization to disclose wrongdoing in or bythe organization.

Can be internal or external Internal- If wrongdoing is only reported to those

higher in the organization

External-When wrongdoing is reported to externalindividuals or bodies such as government agencies,

newspapers, or public interest groups


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Barriers to whistle Blowing

The ambivalent attitude toward

whistleblowers ensures that, even with legal

protection, they may face retaliation in subtle

ways:

being shunned by co-workers,

being closely supervised,

feeling alienated etc


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Barriers to

Internal Whistle Blowing

A lack of trust in the internal system

Unwillingness of employees to be "snitches"

Belief that management is not held to the same standard

Fear of retaliation

Fear of alienation from peers


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Steps for Creating a Whistle blowing

Culture

Create a Policy

A policy about reporting illegal or unethical practices

should include

Formal mechanisms for reporting violations, such ashotlines and mailboxes

Clear communications about the process of voicing

concerns, such as a specific chain of command, or the

identification of a specific person in the organization Clear communications about bans on retaliation


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In addition, a clear connection should exist

between an organization's code of ethics and

performance measures. For example, in the

performance review process, employees can beheld accountable not only for meeting their goals

and objectives but also for doing so in

accordance with the stated values or business

standards of the company.


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Get Endorsement From Top Management

Top management, starting with the CEO, should

demonstrate a strong commitment to

encouraging whistle blowing.

This message must be communicated by line

managers at all levels


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Publicize the Organization's Commitment

To create a culture of openness and honesty, it isimportant that employees hear about the policy

regularly. Top management should make every effort to

talk about the commitment to ethical behavior inmemos, newsletters, and speeches to company

personnel. Publicly acknowledging and rewarding

employees who pinpoint ethical issues


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Investigate and Follow Up

Managers should be required to investigate all

allegations promptly and thoroughly,

report the origins and the results of the

investigation to a higher authority


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Assess the Organization's Internal Whistleblowing System

Find out employees' opinions about the

organization's culture vis--vis its commitmentto ethics and values.

For example, Sears conducts an annualemployee survey related to ethics. Some

questions are: Do you believe unethical issuesare tolerated here? Do you know how to reportan ethical issue?


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External Whistle Blowing

Is whistle blowing always wrong because

employees have a contractual duty to be

loyal to their employer and to keep all

aspects of business confidential?


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Partially true but conclusion is false

Agreements and contracts are void if they

require a person to do something immoral

If an employee has a moral obligation to prevent

other people from being harmed and the only

way to prevent the harm is by blowing the

whistle on ones employer, an employmentagreement cannot require the employee to

remain silent


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External whistle blowing is morally justified if:

There is clear, substantiated evidence that theorganization is engaged in some activity that is seriouslywronging or will wrong other parties

Serious attempts to prevent the wrong through internalwhistle blowing have been tried and failed

It is reasonably certain that external whistle blowing willprevent the wrong

The wrong is serious enough to justify the injuries thatexternal whistle blowing will inflict on oneself, familyand other parties

Documents

Lecture 7-Whistle Blowing