Whistleblowing in nursing

Effects of groupthink on the process of whistleblowing.

Whistleblowing involves ethical decision making on moral decisions. Groupthink affects the choice of whistleblowing. Individuals have more potent abilities to undertake the extreme actions of acting ethically or unethically. Group of people tends to reach to a consensus mainly due to factors such as peer pressure (Abdolmohammadi M. J., 1997). A group of people always decide to take a safer option, which is unethical. Although group work may help in the decision-making process, it does not apply to when dealing with ethical and non-ethical issues. An individual can stand firm and produce effective decisions for complex problems such as ethical decision-making.

Advantages of whistleblowing

Whistleblowing exposes unethical behavior. In cases where an organization is stepping over legal and ethical lines, whistleblowing helps to make the issue known to the public. Companies that believes that they can get away with their misconduct are able to be recognized for their bad behaviors. Whistleblowing helps in their reformation (Dworkin, 2002). In cases where a company mistreats its employees, whistleblowers can help in raising the issue known to the public, which leads to change.

The whistleblowers have legal protection. The federal government whistleblower protection program is a program that protects the employees whose rights are violated at their places of work. It also protects the employees who stand up to whistle-blow on the behaviors of their employers. It helps In the employee retaining their jobs even after putting out the organization. The companies that are found guilty in violating their employees’ rights charged with fines, government suspension of their contracts, and civil lawsuits (Macey, 2006).

Disadvantages of whistleblowing.

Whistleblowing can diminish career prospects. The whistleblower and the employee can end up having downsides. Testimonies, media interviews, and legal testimonies can affect the career of the whistleblower (Davis, 1989). The outside world may regard the whistleblower as a hero for revealing the behavior of the organization. Still, the organization itself may see them as not loyal to not keeping the secrets of the company.

The whistleblower might end up depressed and having panic attacks due to the guilt that the organization might found out that they are involved. The company might push the whistleblower into mental counseling then accuse them as ill and unreliable (Davis, 1989).

Guidelines for blowing a whistle

• A whistleblower should ensure that it’s a valid case.
• Ensure that the right concern is reported. It should not be a false allegation simply because of a mere misunderstanding with a colleague or a manager(Greene, 2004).
• Approved channels should be used. Chains such as whistleblowing helpline, email, or website are encouraged.
• The whistleblower should keep in mind that they are witnesses and not the investigator.
• Concerns should be escalated to others if need be. In situations where the lives of other people are at risk, and you are not trusted, then it’s appropriate to escalate.
• The whistleblower should always remember that there is a law that is designed to protect against employer’s threats(Miceli, 1991).

References

Abdolmohammadi M. J., G. D. (1997). Ethical Cognition of Business Students Individually and in Groups. Journal of Business Ethics, 1717-1725.

Davis, M. (1989). Avoiding the tragedy of whistleblowing. Business & Professional Ethics Journal, 3-19.

Dworkin, T. M. (2002). Whistle-blowing, MNCs, and peace. Vand. J. Transnat’l L, 457.

Greene, A. D. (2004). Whistleblowing as a form of advocacy: Guidelines for the practitioner and organization. Social Work, 219-230.

Macey, J. (2006). Getting the word out about fraud: a theoretical analysis of whistleblowing and insider trading. Mich. L. Rev, 1899.

Miceli, M. P. (1991). Blowing the whistle on data fudging: A controlled field experiment 1. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 271-295.