OPPapers.com

Ethics

Ethics Final

1. Definition: Whistle blowing is the release of information by a member or former member of an organization that is evidence of illegal and/or immoral conduct in the organization or conduct in that is not in the public interest. It is something that can only be done by a member of the organization. The difference is due to the fact that an employee is expected to work only as directed, to go through channels, and especially, to act in all matters for the well-being of the organization. The information involved is typically obtained by the employee during his or her employment as part of the job, such information is usually regarded as confidential so that an employee has an obligation not to reveal it. To go public with information that is damaging to the organization is generally viewed as violating a number of obligations that an employee has as a member of the organization. The information is generally evidence of some significant kind of misconduct on the part of an organization or some of its members. This could involve issues about practices that are legal but contrary to the public interest. Information of this kind could alert the public and aid consumers in counteracting the lobbying effort. The information must be released outside normal channels of communication. In both internal and external whistle-blowing, the information must be revealed in ways that can reasonably be expected to bring about a desired change. The release of information must be something that is done voluntarily. Whistle-blowing must be undertaken as a moral protest, the motive must be to correct some wrong and not to seek revenge or personal advancement.

**Whistle-blowing is the voluntary release of nonpublic information, as a moral protest, by a member or former member of an organization outside the normal channels of communication to an appropriate audience about illegal and/or immoral conduct in the organization or conduct in the organization that...