Business
SUPPORT TO WHISTLEBLOWERS HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS
NEED OF SPEAK-UP POLICIES
(Source: © Ruby BIRD & Yasmina BEDDOU)
(Source: © Ruby BIRD & Yasmina BEDDOU)
This is of public concern to provide an available support to whistleblowers. A legal protection for those who choose not to stay silent. The need for whistleblowing or speak-up policies should be widely accepted and promoted. Yet, as recent events demonstrate, the need to support those who speak truth to and about power is as evident today as it was long before.
At the heart of our endeavours is to help those who witnessed malpractice or wrongdoing at work and are unsure whether or how to raise their concern.
Many individuals do not know where they can raise a concern, demonstrating we need to do more to promote safe alternatives to silence. With individuals not being clear where they can raise a concern outside their organization, it becomes important for employers to provide clear whisleblowing policies which include a variety of routes by which individuals can raise their concern.
The question of if wikileaks has changed attitudes comes often along. There has been much controversy around the mass, unmediated release of US dipomatic cables by Wikileaks. When it comes to the working place, if staff concerns about wrongdoing are not handled properly, an organisation's reputation could come under threat.
Attitudes toward whistleblowing have evolved considerably during the past fifty years in corporate America, from the early days of the "organization man" ethos where loyalty to the company was the ruling norm, to the present time when public outrage about corporate misconduct has created a more auspicious climate for whistleblowing.
Attitudes toward whistleblowing have evolved considerably during the past fifty years in corporate America, from the early days of the "organization man" ethos where loyalty to the company was the ruling norm, to the present time when public outrage about corporate misconduct has created a more auspicious climate for whistleblowing.
The Whistleblowing Protection Act of 1989 extended protections through the Merit Systems Protection Board and increased the authority of the Office of Special Consel created in 1979. These laws protect disclosure of information as well as a governement employee's refusal to participate in wrongful activities at work.
Although many laws protect the whistleblower as employee, supplier, or buyer in a government context, there have been few protections for whistleblowers in private industry.
Although many laws protect the whistleblower as employee, supplier, or buyer in a government context, there have been few protections for whistleblowers in private industry.
Ruby Bird Support Whistleblowers Speak-up Policies Public Available Legal Protection Silent Malpractice Wrongdoing Work Unsure Concern Individuals Employers Organization Wikileaks
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