Whistleblower

Whistleblower (/ˈwɪsəlˌbloʊər/), from the English words "whistle" (a device that produces sound) and "blower" (a person who operates it), is a term used to refer to an individual who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization that is either private or public. The Whistleblower Protection Act was established to protect these individuals.

Etymology

The term "whistleblower" comes from the English phrase "blow the whistle," which refers to the act of alerting others to a problem or issue. This phrase is believed to have originated from the use of whistles in sports and other activities to signal a foul or violation of rules.

Related Terms

Whistleblower Protection Act: A United States federal law that protects whistleblowers who work for the government and report the possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of law, rules, or regulations, or mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety.

Qui tam: A provision of the Federal False Claims Act that allows private citizens to file a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. government in cases of fraud against the government.

Retaliation (employment): Any adverse action that an employer takes against an employee because they filed a complaint about discrimination or participated in a workplace investigation.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act: A U.S. law designed to protect investors from fraudulent financial reporting by corporations. It includes provisions for the protection of whistleblowers.

Dodd-Frank Act: A U.S. federal law that places regulation of the financial industry in the hands of the government. The act also includes provisions for the protection of whistleblowers.