Here’s a provocative question someone once asked me…“If I’m aware of a group of co-workers who are stealing from our company, should I report this ongoing theft—or look the other way and just let things play out?”
In other words. “Should I become a whistleblower?”
Whistleblowing is when an employee of a business (or member of an institution) discloses fraud, corruption, or abuse that is taking place within the organization. In some cases, whistleblowing involves alerting outsiders to some sort of threat to public safety or national security.Think Mark Felt (AKA “Deep Throat”), the high-ranking FBI official who leaked information about President Nixon’s involvement in Watergate to The Washington Post. Or Karen Silkwood, who divulged health and safety issues at the Kerr-McGee nuclear plant in Oklahoma in the early 1970s.
There are reasons that many—perhaps even most—people choose to look the other way when they become aware of institutional illegalities or injustices.Some fear retaliation. Despite supposed legal protections, whistleblowers often face retaliation from employers and/or colleagues. This can include harassment, ostracism, demotion, possibly even blacklisting. (Note: Karen Silkwood died in a suspicious auto accident as she was on her way to meet with a reporter from The New York Times.)
Speaking up/out is stressful. It complicates a whistleblower’s life. It is often isolating, and may lead to anxiety and depression.
On a more positive note, whistleblowing is a...
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified House of Representatives aspirant Edgar Erice from running in the 2025 polls due to propagation of false information to...