What To Do If You Become A Whistleblower At Work
Sometimes you may find yourself in a difficult position at work where you witness some wrongdoing and want to report it. Whistleblowing can feel like an impossibly awkward minefield, however, there are mandated policies at play to ensure you’re protected if you see something illegal or unethical in your workplace and want to report it. If you’ve taken steps to whistle blow but want to stay in your place of employment without unfair repercussions you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of things to do once you have shared information.
Speak To A Lawyer
While you’re legally protected under Public Law and your claims should be anonymous, if rumors swirl and your name do get out then it’s best to have a lawyer by your side to make sure your company knows you understand the law and your rights. Click here to find employment lawyers who will be able to work with you if anyone at your place of work starts to treat you differently and unfairly.
Try And Stay Anonymous
Keeping anonymous is the best way to avoid retaliation from your employer or other employees. Make sure you don’t tell anyone within your organization that you have filed a report or made a complaint. Keep your personal work interactions to a minimum and don’t share any information with your colleagues. Even avoid speaking about any rumors of actions raised and don’t share any opinions even if your colleagues are freely discussing wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing.
Get To Know Your Protective Board
Once you’ve filed a report to your particular whistleblower statute then you should get to know people across its organization. They will be able to offer help and guidance to you going forward so that you can be supported. While you may have disclosed information directly to your employer, you may be at risk from prejudice within your workplace, so having back from an official organization or governing board will put your mind at ease and you’ll feel better protected.
Keep You Head Down And Work Hard
Your company is legally obliged to not retaliate if you are ousted for making a complaint, however, they may try and pick up on other faults to punish you or remove you from the company. Make sure that your work is kept to a high standard and that you are performing well in the business so that they are unable to have you fired for not being up to scratch.
Consider Moving On
You may want to consider an alternative path entirely and move on from the company you’ve blown the whistle on. Maybe you feel uncomfortable working with a company that doesn’t align with your morals or ethics or maybe it’s just time for you to move on and look for a new job. Don’t take the decision lightly and don’t be influenced to leave if you don’t want to, however, it is an option if you no longer respect your employers and what they represent.
Have you been a whistleblower before? Share your experiences in the comments.
