Blowing the whistle is a well-known phrase often used to represent a situation where someone is disclosing certain information to the public or to the appropriate authorities following an illegal action that is socially themed as harmful. It can be any action of a person or a group such as an organization or even a government agency.
Before the action is initiated, it’s always important to be cautious since the consequences might really take you to court unless your arguments are real and sound!
The following are tips for blowing the whistle in the workplace:
• Ensure that your family or a close friend is aware of your plan to start blowing the whistle.
• Seek backup by actually doing the research to establish other witnesses who are also disappointed with the same situation.
• It’s always wise to follow the ranks in the organization. If there is a criterion that should be followed then stick to it- start with the first level of authority then proceed onward if they prove to be unwilling to take action. Breaking ranks might really stir things up so you really need to have a clear mindset on this. You may end up with many cases with very intense public concerns and scrutiny!
• Your whistle-blowing should be reported in a timely manner to the government agencies. This will enable the employer to react to you rather than you reacting to the employer.
• Your relationships with the staff and the administration should be maintained! Remember its not a fight, it’s a plight!
• Ensure that every detail that unfolds before and after whistle-blowing is well recorded. This will actually help you as you seek pieces of evidence in instances of a lawsuit!
• All the relevant records and the supporting documents need to be copied before any concerns are raised.
• Isolation here may really not help you! Seek support from independent allies such as the journalist and the and the elected officials. It will be wise to reach for an activist too.
• You will need a competent lawyer for the event, so invest in this.
• Take care not to ruin the situation and embellish the charges.
• Your whistle-blowing process should be done with your own resources. Don’t use your employer’s resources.
• While working with the authorities, try not to be a cynic. You can still trust them even when you know there is something wrong.
Some frequently asked questions are:
- Should I notify my employer before start whistle-blowing?
The answer here is yes, depending on the reputation of the company. Some companies are so keen on the reputation and they will want to protect by all means. It’s good to notify them so that they may take appropriate action. whistle-blowing is only relevant when all other attempts have failed!
2. What if you’re fired before you initiate?
You can still take the action if the employer followed you with adverse situations concerning your account!
To conclude, the United Employees Law Group (UELG) are ready to protect the rights of the whistle blowers especially on the grounds of exploitation. File your case properly with all the details and you will surely get assisted in instances of improper termination or harassment by your employer!