A whistleblower can be defined as a person who discloses any wrongdoing or malpractice that is taking place within an organization. These disclosures could be made to the general public or to those in a position of authority. A whistleblower can make a disclosure of corruption, mismanagement, illegal activities, or any other crime.
For some time now, the public recognition and value of whistle-blowing has increased dramatically. This is giving more and more people the strength and courage to step up and report illegal activities that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. There are federal and state statutes and regulations that have been put in place to protect whistleblowers from any type of retaliation they may face.
It is an unavoidable fact that people who come forward often face retaliation from their employers. In a typical case, the employer will fire the complainant, who is often an employee who is called an at-will employee. Said employee is a person who does not have a specific period of employment. The at-will employee has the freedom to resign at any given time, but at the same time, the flip side is that the employer also has the right to fire him without having to give any reason. However, there is no need to worry now, as legislatures and courts have created exceptions for those whistleblowers who are in fact employed at will. Whistleblowers are now protected by statutes and therefore can combat any discrimination an employee may show you in the face of allegations. Today, if you are facing wrongdoing or illegal activities in your organization, know that you have the power to do the right thing and be the whistleblower.
