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Part-III-Ch-1-Whistleblowing.pptx

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Nyasha Nobela

This document discusses whistleblowing and the ethical issues surrounding it. It examines the consequences of whistleblowing for the public, the company, and the individual whistleblower. It also considers the whistleblower's intent, duties and obligations. Whistleblowing is a complex issue with competing interests, and there are many factors to consider in determining whether a particular act of whistleblowing is ethically justified.

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PART III Ethical Issues in Business Chapter 1 Whistleblowing Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 1
Whistleblowing ? Release of information to the public, by an employee of his/her employer’s wrongdoing ? “Ethical resister” or “person of principle” ? Conflicting interests involving three parties (one must measure and compare their interests): 1. Public 2. The company 3. The individual Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 2
Consequences of Whistleblowing ? Whose interests have greater moral priority? ? Consider consequences ? measured in terms of harm and benefit ? “How much harm to the public and to yourself would result if you did not blow the whistle?” OR…“How much harm to the public and to yourself would result if you did blow the whistle?” ? How to measure harm? ? Utilitarian calculus: ? How many people would be harmed? ? How severe would the harm be? ? How long would it last? ? How likely is it to occur Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 3
Consequences of Whistleblowing Cont’d… ? According to Bok, successful whistleblowing: ? If the whistleblowing under consideration is unlikely to succeed, then the harm to the public is unlikely to be avoided, and that changes things ? Important to consider alternatives ? is whistleblowing the best way to achieve consequences? ? Did you try other things first, such as internal reporting, to minimize the negative consequences? Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 4
Consequences of Whistleblowing Cont’d… ? Whistleblowers have duty to verify facts ? If not true, whistleblowing could put company in financial jeopardy ? negative consequences for all stakeholders ? Mistaken whistleblowing makes it harder for future whistleblowers Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 5
Intent of Whistleblowing ? Whistleblowing can be morally justified solely based on intent ? If your intentions are good, then whistleblowing is the right thing to do (whether it succeeds or not) ? Motives arising from malice may qualify the whistleblowing as unjustified Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 6
Rights, Duties & Obligations ? What about rights, duties and obligations to the company? ? Is whistleblowing a violation of loyalty to the company? ? Do employees have a duty to maintain confidentiality? Does whistleblowing violate that duty? ? What about duties and obligations to yourself and others? ? Do you have an obligation to be loyal to your family? To society at large? Which obligation comes first? Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 7
Rights, Duties & Obligations Cont’d… ? What about rights of others? ? Does society have a right to freedom of information? ? Freedom from harm? ? Do companies and organizations have a duty to allow, rather than a right to prohibit, whistleblowing? ? Companies committed to high ethical standards should value potential whistleblowers ? Create effective corporate whistleblower protection programs ? Reduce need for whistleblowing by respecting employees’ basic political freedoms and being truly socially responsible companies Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 8
Make it Count ? Do not underestimate the politics of whistleblowing: ? Companies will likely do their best to squelch the story ? The whistleblower may not want publicity that invades privacy and disrupts life, not to mention future livelihood ? Can result in demotion and potential harassment ? If, after checking facts, you decide to blow the whistle, do so after careful planning – make it count! Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 9
Make it Count Cont’d… ? Why is whistleblowing still the exception? Why do people allow the “bad” to continue? ? According to MacGregor and Stuebs, an individual’s willingness to remain silent depends upon: ? Their awareness that an action is wrong ? Community ties ? Moral competence ? Professional standards ? Also relevant: knowledge of the consequences to oneself ? Is there any easy whistleblowing? Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 10

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Part-III-Ch-1-Whistleblowing.pptx

  • 1. PART III Ethical Issues in Business Chapter 1 Whistleblowing Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 1
  • 2. Whistleblowing ? Release of information to the public, by an employee of his/her employer’s wrongdoing ? “Ethical resister” or “person of principle” ? Conflicting interests involving three parties (one must measure and compare their interests): 1. Public 2. The company 3. The individual Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 2
  • 3. Consequences of Whistleblowing ? Whose interests have greater moral priority? ? Consider consequences ? measured in terms of harm and benefit ? “How much harm to the public and to yourself would result if you did not blow the whistle?” OR…“How much harm to the public and to yourself would result if you did blow the whistle?” ? How to measure harm? ? Utilitarian calculus: ? How many people would be harmed? ? How severe would the harm be? ? How long would it last? ? How likely is it to occur Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 3
  • 4. Consequences of Whistleblowing Cont’d… ? According to Bok, successful whistleblowing: ? If the whistleblowing under consideration is unlikely to succeed, then the harm to the public is unlikely to be avoided, and that changes things ? Important to consider alternatives ? is whistleblowing the best way to achieve consequences? ? Did you try other things first, such as internal reporting, to minimize the negative consequences? Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 4
  • 5. Consequences of Whistleblowing Cont’d… ? Whistleblowers have duty to verify facts ? If not true, whistleblowing could put company in financial jeopardy ? negative consequences for all stakeholders ? Mistaken whistleblowing makes it harder for future whistleblowers Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 5
  • 6. Intent of Whistleblowing ? Whistleblowing can be morally justified solely based on intent ? If your intentions are good, then whistleblowing is the right thing to do (whether it succeeds or not) ? Motives arising from malice may qualify the whistleblowing as unjustified Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 6
  • 7. Rights, Duties & Obligations ? What about rights, duties and obligations to the company? ? Is whistleblowing a violation of loyalty to the company? ? Do employees have a duty to maintain confidentiality? Does whistleblowing violate that duty? ? What about duties and obligations to yourself and others? ? Do you have an obligation to be loyal to your family? To society at large? Which obligation comes first? Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 7
  • 8. Rights, Duties & Obligations Cont’d… ? What about rights of others? ? Does society have a right to freedom of information? ? Freedom from harm? ? Do companies and organizations have a duty to allow, rather than a right to prohibit, whistleblowing? ? Companies committed to high ethical standards should value potential whistleblowers ? Create effective corporate whistleblower protection programs ? Reduce need for whistleblowing by respecting employees’ basic political freedoms and being truly socially responsible companies Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 8
  • 9. Make it Count ? Do not underestimate the politics of whistleblowing: ? Companies will likely do their best to squelch the story ? The whistleblower may not want publicity that invades privacy and disrupts life, not to mention future livelihood ? Can result in demotion and potential harassment ? If, after checking facts, you decide to blow the whistle, do so after careful planning – make it count! Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 9
  • 10. Make it Count Cont’d… ? Why is whistleblowing still the exception? Why do people allow the “bad” to continue? ? According to MacGregor and Stuebs, an individual’s willingness to remain silent depends upon: ? Their awareness that an action is wrong ? Community ties ? Moral competence ? Professional standards ? Also relevant: knowledge of the consequences to oneself ? Is there any easy whistleblowing? Copyright ? 2017 Peg Tittle - Broadview Press Inc. 10