- a person who informs on a person or organization regarded as engaging in an unlawful or immoral activity.
Whistle-blowers are people who witness and report an act within an organization that is illegal or unethical. In some organisations there is a culture of silence where workers believe it is ‘unAustralian’ to report others. They see it as dobbing. It can take a lot of courage and ethical conviction to report a colleague for misconduct.
Failure to report malpractice allows wrongdoing to go undetected and get worse. It can lead to corporate disasters involving fraud and bankruptcy. In the past whistle blowing has led to the reporters of it being victimized from other staff members. Today, there is legal protection for whistleblowers under the Corporations Act 2001 which means you can’t retaliate against a whistleblower. Their job is protected even if they are complaining against management. The law means organisations have to put in place procedures that will protect whistleblowers. This is so that people are encouraged to speak out and report illegal behavior.
Whistleblowers have to have reasonable grounds to suspect the company or a staff member has done something illegal. Once they are convinced unethical behavior has occurred, they need to prepare a report in good faith to ASIC (Australian securities and investments commission) or a person authorized to receive whistleblower information.
- Whistle-blowers are people who witness and report an act within an organization that is illegal or unethical.
- Workers believe it is ‘unAustralian’ to report others and see it as dobbing.
- Failure to report malpractice allows wrong doing to go undetected and get worse.
- There is legal protection for whistleblowers under the Corporations Act 2001 which means you can’t retaliate against a whistleblower.
- Whistleblowers have to have reasonable grounds to suspect the company or a staff member has done something illegal.
- Once they are convinced unethical behavior has occurred, they need to prepare a report to ASIC (Australian securities and investments commission) or a person authorized to receive whistleblower information.
Activity – Research a case involving a whistleblower. Identify that person and the reasons for their bringing the serious issue to light. State the protections from victimization the whistleblower should have received, including legislation. Did the person receive these protections? Why/why not? Would you be prepared to ‘blow the whistle’ if you found a manager or colleague undertaking illegal or unethical behavior?
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For more information: http://www.whistleblowers.org.au/
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