The 3 Reasons We Need Whistleblowers

7/22/2022

Whistleblowing and whistleblower lawsuits are among the most important to make sure organizations are acting in our best interests. However, it is also something we do not see enough of. There are many examples of people coming forward to report on injustices or illegal activities happening within their organization. The risks for whistleblowers can be high, however. Many people fear losing their jobs in retaliation if they come forward as a whistleblower, which is why there are not as many of them as there should be. Here are three reasons why we need more whistleblowers and how you can become one if you are not ready to do so publicly just yet.

We Need Whistleblowers to Hold Big Organizations Accountable

The media has an important role to play in holding power accountable, but it is not a substitute for blowing the whistle. Journalists have limited resources and have to cover multiple stories at once, which means it takes time for them to break a story, let alone follow up on it and report. Whistleblowers, on the other hand, can expose wrongdoing and make corrections happen much more quickly. People who work within organizations can see and hear things that are happening, such as violations of policies or laws, misuse of resources, illegal activities and or other problems. They can report on these things promptly, possibly stopping the wrongdoing from getting worse or exposing it before it happens, or if government funds are being wasted or fraudulently taken, file a qui tam lawsuit.

Whistleblowers Can Prevent Dark Practices from Becoming Industry Standards

Many people do not want to be whistleblowers, but they still want to try to stop the spread of dark practices. You can do this by speaking out within the organization whenever you see something that violates your organization’s values or is just bad or unethical practices. If you see something happening and it is not necessary, let your supervisor or the person in charge of the area know. These kinds of small acts can help keep dark practices from becoming standard. And if you see something that needs to be addressed but no one else is saying anything about it, you can speak up. You can calmly bring up the issue and ask for a correction, while also being prepared to push back if the person in charge does not correct it. You may not always be successful, but you are doing your part to keep dark practices from becoming the industry standard.

Whistleblowing Is a Way to Protect the Public

You may not think of your profession as having anything to do with protecting the public, but many professions have a responsibility to do so. For example, doctors and other medical professionals have to report on doctors who are not keeping patients safe and following the standards of care. The same with lawyers. Professionals who design and build infrastructure, as well as those who construct, maintain, and fly airplanes have to report on practices that violate federal or local laws, are not safe, or waste resources. Personnel in other fields may have a responsibility to report on violations of ethical standards. For example, psychologists and other mental health professionals have a duty to report if a colleague appears to be a danger to clients or is otherwise unfit to practice. Similarly, lawyers have to report if a colleague commits misconduct, such as committing an ethical violation or withholding information that they are ethically required to share with their client.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the biggest reason we need more whistleblowers is to protect society and make sure every person has a fair shot, including those who decide to blow the whistle. You may be thinking that the problems you see are not as bad as what other whistleblowers have exposed. But regardless, whatever your reasons are for coming forward, remember that you can do so anonymously and speak with a qualified whistleblower attorney. Whistleblowers have played an important role in our society for centuries. These individuals have helped society progress by shedding light on corruption and abuses of power in government and big organizations. We need more whistleblowers today so that we can keep making progress in stopping illegal or immoral corporate activities. This is precisely why Congress enacted very strict protections for whistleblowers and provided for whistleblower awards for these brave individuals coming forward. If you are ready to blow the whistleblower attorney, contact a Nashville whistleblower attorney today.

Timothy L. Miles

T imothy L. Miles is a nationally recognized shareholder rights attorney raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Miles was recentely selected by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM as a 2022 Top Ranked Lawyer, 2022 Top Rated Litigator. and a 2022 Elite Lawyer of the South. Mr. Miles also maintains the AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, their highest rating for both legal ability and ethics. Mr. Miles is a member of the prestigious Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association, a superb rated attorney by Avvo, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Premier Lawyers of America (2019) and recognized as a Distinguished Lawyer, Recognizing Excellence in Securities Law, by Lawyers of Distinction (2019).

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