What Are the Hazards of Whistleblowing and Their Effects in the Workplace?

by Neil Kokemuller, Demand Media Google
Employees are often stressed when contemplating blowing the whistle on their employer.


Michael Blann/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Whistle-blowers come forward publicly when something illegal or unethical is going on in their organizations after they do not receive an acceptable reply internally when communicating concern. Whistle-blowers are often ostracized in their companies and face the dilemma of protecting their employer or stepping forward when something inappropriate is going on.

Challenges Trust

Whistle-blowing can lead to a breakdown of trust. Companies typically prefer that employees use internal communication systems if they are uncomfortable with activities going on in their departments or the company. This gives the company a chance to monitor itself internally before the employee decides to go elsewhere. If trust breaks down between managers and employees, tension and effective working relationships among employees become challenging.


Whistle-blowers may face hostility and resentment from peers and superiors. The federal government has ramped up legal protection for whistle-blowers. Still, a whistle-blower may get the cold shoulder or be treated like a "rat" or "snitch." This culture of retaliation creates a hostile workplace for the whistle-blower and distracts employees from their tasks.

Broken Chain of Command

Whistle-blowing may take place because the employee feels like his supervisor or other company leaders do not his message seriously. Other whistle-blowers bypass the chain of command because they fear repercussions for going against the company. The hazard if employees routinely ignore the chain of command in communicating issues or concerns is that it negatively affect this important system of management and authority. Company leaders need to create a culture that encourages employees to communicate concerns internally to avoid potential degradation of respect for management.

Organizational Repercussions

Whistle-blowing behavior can bring legal or market-related consequences for the organization. Of course, if the organization and its leaders knowingly participate in or endorse illegal or unethical activities, they might expect to face fallout if word gets out. Employees in an organization that do not participate in or have no awareness of inappropriate activities are typically affected if the company faces legal claims or public backlash.

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