NEED DISCUSSION IN 10 HOURS or LESS

Respond to the Classmate’s Discussion (below) as you would

in a face-to face class by stating why you agree and asking

questions pertaining to the discussion. (Charles)

When the topic of whistleblowers is discussed, Dr. Jeffery Wigand is known as someone who singlehandedly exposed the harmful effects of smoking tobacco and the related illnesses that affect over 425,000 Americans each year (Brenner, 2004). Wigand's testimony against the tobacco industry sparked a reaction still felt today. Wigand's moral intelligence and desire to do the right thing cost him his family, career, financial security, and marriage (Brenner, 2004). He endured death threats, lawsuits, and ostracization from friends, family, and colleagues (Brenner, 2004).

Deciding to expose and speak out against wrongdoing and unethical practices in the workplace can be life-changing (Ravishankar, 2003). Individuals who voice their concerns sometimes face severe backlashes, such as threats, retaliation, alienation, and dismissal (Brenner, 2004; Fredin et al., 2018). According to Fredin et al., "Despite attempts to encourage whistleblowing, lingering reluctance to report questionable acts remains frustratingly apparent" (p. 320). Because whistleblowing comes with risks, there is a reluctance for employees to come forward when unethical behavior is observed within an organization (Fredin et al., 2018).

For example, unethical practices were highlighted by a group of officers who belonged to the Los Angeles Police Department's Metropolitan Precient ( Rector & Poston, 2020). When these officers refused to cooperate with an unspoken, de facto quota system that involved a disproportionate number of arrests of gang members, officer Samantha Fiedler and several others experienced backlash and retaliation from superiors in the department (Rector & Poston, 2020). Retaliatory actions from management ranged from reassignments to undesirable administrative positions, demotions, negative performance evaluations, and dismissals (Rector & Poston, 2020). Because there is an unspoken code of complacency and adherence within most organizations, whistleblowers are viewed as "troublemakers" (Jacquinot & Pellissier- Tanon, 2019).

To motivate employees to speak up when unethical behavior is observed, the guarantee of job protection, the elimination of stigma surrounding whistleblowing, and possible monetary compensation for the reporting employee may serve as incentives for reporting wrongdoing in the workplace (Fredin et al., 2018). Until society evolves to a place where everyone willingly chooses to do the right thing at all times, there will always be the need to have individuals who are compelled to be guided by their morals, ethics, and conventions.

References

Brenner, M. (2004). The Man Who Knew Too Much. Vanity Fair. [Web page]. https://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/1996/05/wingand199605Links to an external site.

Fredin, A., Venkatesh, R., Riley, J., & Eldridge, S.W. (2018). "The Road Not taken": A Study of Moral Intensity, Whistleblowing, and Regret. Taylor & Francis Group. LLC. 29(4), 320- 340. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2018.1469088Links to an external site.

Jacquinot, P., & Pellissier-Tanon, A. (2019). Conspiracy of Silence versus Moral Freedom: Applying the Concept of Structure of Sin to the Phenomenon of Whistleblowing. Journal of Markets & Morality. 22(1) 147-167. Ravishankar, L. (2003, February 4). Encouraging Internal Whistleblowing in Organizations [Web page]. Retrieved from https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/business- ethics/resources/encouraging-internal-whistleblowing/Links to an external site.

Rector, K., & Poston, B. (2020). Officer alleges LAPD had quotas, silenced whistleblowers in gang-labeling scandal. latimes.com

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-27/lapd-silence-whistleblowers- gang-labeling-scandal/