4. Discuss the consequences of ignoring a whistle-blower
The opportunity to address illegal or unethical activities before the situation is revealed in the media could potentially save an organization’s corporate reputation, prevent a punitive fall in the company’s stock price, and, as we saw in Chapter 6, help to minimize federal fines. Choosing to dismiss the concerns of a whistle-blower, as organizations seem to do with disheartening frequency, merely serves to escalate an already volatile situation and place the organization in an even deeper hole when the situation is made public.
• Imposed specific processing deadlines of complaints
• Guaranteed anonymity of the whistle-blower
• Required prompt payment of any portion of the settlement entitled to the whistle-blower
Key point – better be very sure of your facts and your evidence better be irrefutable before blowing the whistle