Some view whistleblowing — informing on illegal or unethical practices in the workplace — as being undesirable. However, if whistleblowing is incorporated as a natural part of the internal corporate communications system it can be transformed into an extremely valuable aid. Provides examples...

Whistleblowing – the unauthorized disclosure of illegal or unethical conduct within an organization – has an ancient lineage, although the first known use of the term rather than the concept was in 1963. Far from being subversion, it is a vital, almost indispensable control device. This is...

Discusses the BCCI scandal, with particular reference to the part played by auditors Price Waterhouse. Declares the IIA Position Paper on Whistleblowing to be inadequate and urges reform of corporate governance: the selection and training of non‐executive directors must be improved and their...

An historical saunter is taken through the development of approaches, legal and organisational, to deal with whistleblowing. Whistleblowing engenders strong emotions, and it is not surprising that some of the early pioneers met with stiff resistance. Some classic whistleblowing cases are...

We begin with health and safety, notably in the risky working environment of the oil rigs, before moving on to the health service. Social services have become a huge area of concern with cases of child abuse emerging from the past as well as the present. Professional regulatory bodies are...

A series of case studies of whistle‐blowers suggests that most suffer harm of one sort or another, however justified their cause. Research on whistle blowing shows that the average whistle‐blower in all other respects could be regarded as a model employee, and it is therefore a pity for the...

Valid acts of whistleblowing – employees informing on dubious practices in the workplace – is increasingly being viewed in a favourable light, with statutory protection following. Examples of whistleblowing are presented, including education and disaster situations which, being...