What encourages whistleblowing?
- The fact people can see how the company or an external actor may actually do something about the matter they reported
- Making it clear that any reported complaints will be dealt with can also foster a readiness to point out anything suspicious
The employee also must make an ethical decision:
- Is there really some wrongdoing?
- Is the wrongdoing so bad that, on an ethical scale, it outweighs any commitment of loyalty to the company?
Companies can also benefit
If a company tolerates or even rewards whistleblowing, it may set a good example to staff and show employees that engaging in unethical behaviour comes at a high cost, according to the University of Pennsylvania website.
What should be done in order to promote an ethical culture within a company?
You need to keep in mind pluralistic ignorance. Imagine you are attending a lecture and you don’t understand what's being said. Unsure of what to do, you look around and don't see anyone asking questions. But at the same time, others are also looking around and can also see that nobody else is asking questions, even if no one understands anything. When in doubt, we look to others for guidance. Something similar happens regarding observations of unethical behaviour within a company. So what to do?
- Leaders need to lead by example
- The idea that while outcomes are important, the question of how we achieve these outcomes is even more important
- Ethical behaviour of co-workers fosters our own ethical behaviour
Social cues are important, since formal and informal sanctions from superiors and co-workers might be the result of whistleblowing. Social pressure to act in the same way is a factor in matters both large and small.
-jk-