A Story of Whistleblowing, Case Study Example

When an event which violates ethical codes of behavior occurs within an organization, the employees have one of two options. Ignore the problem or to blow the whistle and to bring attention to the problem which is violating ethical standards of behavior.  Prior to blowing the whistle, John who is an employee at the corporation had to review some particular points prior to blowing the whistle. Johnreflectedon how he felt about the violation of ethics. He reflected upon his reasons for wanting to reveal that the ethical violations were taking place. John had to consider the influence of his manager. The ethical problem involved his manager..John thought about this quite deeply.

John weighed the risks and the benefits of the whistle blowing activity. He thought what he could gain and what he could lose.  John reflected upon his manager. His manager had been with the corporation for twenty years and was looking forward to a pensioned retirement. John knew that he could not live with himself for having witnessed the manager take company funds which did not belong to him. He was taught differently.

John waited until the district supervisor who was overthe manager arrived for an inspection. He knew that the supervisor of the corporation was coming within a week. John discussed the issue with his family. John’s family is a family which was brought up on solid Christian values.  John’s family reassured him that in discussing the ethical violation with the district supervisor that he would be taking the correct course of action.

John discussed the problem with the districtsupervisor. The districtsupervisor told him not to worry. John saw that the district supervisor took no action. What John decided to do was to contact the main office and speak to the ethics officer of the corporation. The main ethics officer of the corporation reviewed the problem and had noticed that there was cash missing which was unaccounted. John’s manager left the company and John received a bonus for whistle blowing.

Conclusion

What was learned from this comparison of the story and the steps to whistle blowing is that workers have consciences and morals. They will not idly stand by and watch someone violate ethics on a regular basis at the workplace.  I learned that workers will blow the whistle on activities which violate ethical behavior if they have everything to lose and nothing to gain.