One of the focuses of my blog is Career Discussions. Whether in the Public or Private sectors, there are instances where employees witness some form of corruption and must decide whether or to say something, or to simply look the other way. While it may be for the greater good, in some instances, there could be long-term ramifications for being a ‘whistleblower’. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Fighting The Corruption: How To Protect Yourself As A Whistleblower.
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Have you seen or found evidence of activity in your workplace that seems shady, unethical, or downright illegal? If your answer is yes, then you have a tough choice to make. You can either keep quiet and allow these issues to continue or voice your concerns and risk facing backlash. If you go with the latter and decide to become a whistleblower, then it’s crucial that you protect yourself from any dangers that may arise from speaking up. Here are six ways for you to do that.
1. Put Everything In Writing
Once you’re certain that there’s an issue to be addressed, you should document any information that you have gathered and store it somewhere safe. Record phone conversations, keep texts, emails, and letters, and film any face-to-face discussions. Make sure that you have hard copies of all of this information, just in case you experience technical issues or ever get hacked.
2. Speak To A Professional
A common response to whistleblowing is character assassination. For this reason, you should find yourself a lawyer experienced in whistleblower lawsuits. They will help you to fight this backlash, as well as support you and put forward the best case possible. Many laws provide a financial incentive for whistleblowers, so your lawyer will also help you maximize your rewards.
3. Stick To The Facts
Making false claims publically can see you sued for defamation. Because of this, you need to make sure that you stick to the facts and never exaggerate any of the information that you have gathered. The more reliable and honest that you can be, the more credible you will appear. This means that you’ll have a much easier time convincing others that your claims are genuine.
4. Don’t Discuss The Situation
While your case may not be quite so serious, there have been situations in the past where the whistleblower put themselves in danger by speaking up. If you think that your life or family could be at risk, it’s better to remain anonymous, at least for now. Avoid discussing the situation with anyone other than the authorities and your lawyer, including your close friends and family.
5. Keep Doing Your Job
Whistleblowers tend to lose their jobs as a result of speaking up. However, until the same happens to you, it’s crucial that you keep working as normal. After all, you don’t want to give your employer a valid excuse to get rid of you. Make sure that you continue to show up on time, keep yourself productive, follow the workplace policies, and try not to make any more waves for now.
6. Prepare For The Worst
Although you can hope for the best, it’s sensible to prepare for the worst. With that in mind, you should build up an emergency fund, just in case your boss decides to fire you regardless. If you think that you could be in any danger, you may also want to go and live somewhere else for a while. This could be with a trusted friend or family member or just a hotel.
Blowing the whistle means exposing the wrongdoings within a company or organization. While this is the right thing to do, it can leave you vulnerable to a number of risks. To make sure that you’re protected, follow the advice above.
