Whistleblowing

Unethical behaviors, decisions, and illegal actions within any organization have the potential to affect the organization and its employees and, most importantly, public interest. To prevent such outcomes, employees have the responsibility to take effective and appropriate actions to prevent such behaviors. One of the best responses involves whistleblowing. Whistleblowing involves employees reporting such wrongdoings, particularly in the public’s best interest. An example, in this case, is mainly the response taken by Karen Silkwood. Karen Silkwood was mainly an American chemical technician and a labor union activist. Karen is commonly known for raising concerns related to corporate practices mainly related to safety and, most importantly, health in a nuclear facility. As a result, Karen’s whistleblowing act focused on the dangers related to workplace practices, particularly due to employers falsifying reports and, in some cases, retouching photographs (Powell, 2020). Karen’s employers were involved in cutting corners related to safety and placing them at risk related to radiation poisoning. Although she later died, her whistleblowing bravery played an important role in changing workplace conditions in the general industry for the better.       

One advantage for a whistleblower reporting an issue internally as the first step is that it may help to avoid specific issues that may affect the organization as changes can be made internally. However, this might be difficult, particularly in convincing employers. Making a public report, on the other hand, has more advantages (Dungan et al. 2019). The main reason is that it will help solve an issue within one organization and others, thus impacting different people and more organizations. For example, Karen’s whistleblowing act helps in transforming the entire nuclear industry.    

References

Dungan, J. A., Young, L., & Waytz, A. (2019). The power of moral concerns in predicting whistleblowing decisions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 85, 103848.

Powell, M. (2020). Whistleblowing: still not an issue of social policy, but an issue for social policy. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy.