Perceptions, Reactions and Persecution

Perceptions of and Reactions to Whistleblowing

Ideas about whistleblowing vary. Some view whistleblowers as selfless martyrs acting in the public interest. When the whistleblowing involves private companies, it is often considered to be in the interest of organizational accountability. At the same time, there are those who view whistleblowers as “snitches,” with their sole purpose being to pursue personal glory and fame. The majority of cases of whistleblowing are very low-profile, and receive little or no media attention. Those whistleblowers who do report significant misconduct often find themselves in danger of some sort of persecution or backlash.

Persecution of Whistleblowers

Persecution of whistle-blowers is a serious issue in many parts of the world. Although whistleblowers are often protected under law from employer retaliation, there have been many cases where individuals have been punished for whistleblowing. Retaliation may take forms such as termination, suspension, demotion, wage garnishment, or even harsh mistreatment by other employees. In the United States, most whistleblower protection laws provide for some remedies or damages for lost wages, but benefits are limited even if whistleblower retaliation is proven. However, many whistleblowers report encountering a wide-spread “shoot the messenger” mentality by corporations or government agencies accused of misconduct. In some cases whistleblowers have been subjected to criminal prosecution in reprisal for reporting wrongdoing.

Some private organizations have formed legal defense funds or support groups to assist whistleblowers. Depending on the circumstances, some whistleblowers feel they are ostracized by their co-workers. In addition, they often feel discriminated against by future potential employers. In companies unaware of whistleblower protection laws, it is not unusual for whistleblowers to be fired for their actions.