The act of whistleblowing can offer positive consequences, including peace of mind to the whistleblower; empowering fellow employees towards honesty and integrity; and in some instances, considerable financial remuneration.
However, the act of whistleblowing can sometimes result in unforeseen negative consequences, in particular for the whistleblower who may find that their morally and ethically appropriate act can negatively impact both their current and future employment.
Prospective whistleblowers would do well to consider the following before acting:
- You may be labeled within your industry as a whistleblower. Many prospective employers will value your integrity, but others might fear it out of concern that you might one day act against their company.
- Your professional and personal relationships may suffer. Once you’ve accused your employer of wrongdoing, people will take sides—and you may be distraught to learn that some of your colleagues, whom you regarded as friends, no longer wish to be associated with you. Your actions may also take a toll on your personal life: family members may feel like they’ve been drawn into your act of whistleblowing and may ultimately face some of the same mental and financial pressures you are experiencing.
- You might encounter corporate retaliation against you. Your punishment for speaking out may include job termination. It could also be more indirect, such as a change in job duties or reassignment to a distant office, bullying by your boss or the person your reported, or even financial losses such as no raises.
- You may experience financial hardship while your whistleblowing case is under assessment. Attorney fees could be considerable and your ability to find new employment quickly could be endangered. Your financial burden would likely become that of your family as well.
Given these considerations – both pro and con – how is an employee who has opted for whistleblowing to proceed?
An appropriate first step would be to identify and confirm any negative fallout from the whistleblowing action. Consider having a reference check(s) conducted to reveal what your former employer is actually saying about you. Utilize a professional reference-checking firm such as Allison & Taylor to identify if your references are as supportive as you need them to be. If they are not, be aware that services such as a Cease & Desist letter can be used to better ensure that unfavorable references will not offer damaging commentary to your future employment prospects.
