Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing (pronunciation: /ˈwɪsəlˌbloʊɪŋ/) is the act of exposing any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization that is either private or public. The information of alleged wrongdoing can be classified in many ways: violation of company policy/rules, law, regulation, or threat to public interest/national security, as well as fraud, and corruption.

Etymology

The term originates from the practice of police officers blowing a whistle to alert both the public and other law enforcement to illegal activities. Over time, the term has evolved to refer to individuals who expose misconduct or illegal activities within an organization.

Related Terms

Internal Whistleblowing: This refers to when the whistleblower reports misconduct to someone within the organization who has the power to take corrective action.

External Whistleblowing: This refers to when the whistleblower reports misconduct to external persons or entities. This could be regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies, media, or groups concerned with the issues.

Whistleblower Protection: This refers to the safeguards put in place to protect whistleblowers from retaliation within the workplace. This could include job loss, discrimination, or any other form of punishment.

Retaliation (employment): This refers to the punishment a whistleblower might face after reporting misconduct within an organization. This could include job loss, discrimination, or any other form of punishment.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act: This is a U.S. law enacted in 2002 that provides protections for whistleblowers in publicly traded companies.

False Claims Act: This is a U.S. law that allows whistleblowers to file claims on behalf of the government against federal contractors who commit fraud.

Qui Tam: This is a provision of the False Claims Act that allows private individuals, or whistleblowers, to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. government.