Traditionally organizations have adopted the objective of maximizing profit for the business itself and for the welfare of the business only. In the new generation managers of organizations (whether it is a corner store or a large multinational corporation), they are expected to maximize profit and at the same time act as ‘good’ corporate citizens for the welfare of society. Society expects managers to adopt the concept of TQM (total quality management.)

        Due to this change from traditional management responsibility to modern manager’s responsibilities, ethical factors and social responsibility have become important aspects of managing an organization.

        Ethics outlines the standards of an organization of what is morally ‘good’ or ‘bad’. The ethical dilemmas with in an organization can create concerns among employers and employees as it conflicts with their individual personal beliefs.

        This raises the issue of whistle blowing, which is when “individuals report unethical practices by their employer to outsiders”.

        The reason for whistle blowing is that the whistle blower believes that unethical practices are being performed and he or she is willing to preserve the ethical standards in our society.

Whistle blowing may seem ethical to society but it is unethical to the organization itself. From this conflicting factor, it can create problems for both the whistle blower and the organization (manager) itself.

There are a number of problems that arise for the employee who is whistle blowing :

  • First is that the employer may retaliate by dismissing the employee who is whistle blowing as he or she may view this action as not staying loyal to the manager. There are now laws preventing the dismissal of an employee for whistle blowing as this employee is taking action for the welfare of society. There has been much emphasis on whistle blower protection in the present day than in the past.
  • Another problem for whistle blowers is that fellow employees or co-workers may discriminate against the whistle blower as they may believe the whistle blower is acting unethically towards the manager.
  • The whistle blower may be transferred to a lower position in his current work career. Therefore his job career is questioned and cause personal stress for the whistle blower due to a feel of job insecurity.
  • Whistle blowers could have problem mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually as he or she realizes the impact or consequences that will occur to them as an individual from internal organization whistle blowing.
Join now!

Whistle blowing not only creates problem for the employee whistle blowing, but it also creates problems for the manager and organization as they are the accused of committing unethical practices.

The problems that may arise for the organization includes:

  • It may harm the organizations image, or name in the long term as it affects how customers view the company if the whistle blowing is exposed to the media. This concept also applies if the whistle blower has made false accusations, as customers will remember the organization as ‘the company in the media for unethical practices, even if it can ...

This is a preview of the whole essay