Whistleblowers have played a big role in national news over the last couple years. With whistleblowers making up more headlines than ever before, from the #MeToo movement to the Ukraine scandal, there has been, in turn, increased analysis of whistleblowing behavior and awareness on the part of the general public of what it means to blow the whistle.
One question that often comes up when more people begin blowing the whistle is whether the increased whistleblowing activity is indicative of an increase in criminal activity. This is an understandable assumption to make, but it’s important not to assume anything, and to carefully assess each situation individually. Instead, as was the case with the #MeToo movement, it could very well be that there’s not an increase in misconduct, but an increase in people who are willing to speak up about their experiences.
Here are a few takeaways for employers in this modern era of whistleblowing to keep in mind when considering their own internal reporting and investigatory systems.
For more information about whistleblowers and avoiding letting your assumptions get the better of you, contact an experienced whistleblower lawyer at Kardell Law Group.