12 ways organizations discourage whistle-blowing

Imagine this: You’re a middle school student, and you report a bully to the principal. The bully’s friends learn you “leaked” the news. They decide you need to pay for the trouble you’ve created. They slander you behind your back. They threaten people who are willing to sit with you, so you end up eating lunch alone. They post nastygrams on Facebook. You find eggs smashed on your front door when you get home.

Adults don’t act like this, right? Wrong.

Forbes.com recently published alarming statistics from the Ethics Resource Center. Middle school retaliation tactics are alive and well in the workplace.

A survey of employees who “reported ethical violations or other wrongdoing” revealed that over half experienced negative consequences as a result of speaking up.

“Sixty-two percent received verbal abuse by someone in management," according to the ERC research. "Large percentages also reported exclusion, job loss, pay cuts, demotions, online harassment, and physical harm."

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What is your organization doing to ensure a safe environment for whistle blowers?