The realization of ethical practices in the organization is highly dependant on the effectiveness of its employees and other stakeholders to identify and reports on any unethical practice in the company. This is because; such practices are quite detrimental to the reputation of the business in the marketplace. According to available information, the reputation of an investment is the most crucial tool in defining its customer market share, a factor that is instrumental in ensuring the sustainable long term economic development of the organization. Another commonly asserted positive impact of whistle blowing is that it serves the ultimate purpose of mitigating damages and liability costs in the company.
It is worth appreciating the fact that unethical practices only functions to hurt the interests of those involved within or outside the organization. On the contrary, whistle blowing can have negative implications on the competitive advantage of the organization. This is because it serves to make public any occurrence thought to hurt the goals and objectives of the organization. Still, whistle blowing practices might compromise job security of the individual if such are not provided for in the policies of the organization. This essay is written as a discussion on the positive and negative implications of whistle blowing for many individuals. The author also provides a discussion on their personal feelings about whistle blowers.
Whistle blowing can be defined as the practice by members of the organization to report criminal or unethical practices within an organization. Such disclosure practices might be made by former or current members of the organization and can be to the parties inside or outside the organization. According to proponents of whistle blowing, the practice is instrumental in mitigating unethical behavior in the organization. For whistle blowers, they benefit from compromising their employment reputation. It is commonly asserted that unethical practices in an organization are the leading cause of employee firing, harassment and victimization. On the other hand, reporting of eminent unethical activities in the organization relieves the individual of blame upon failures in the firm.
Another positive aspect of whistle blowing is that it enhances the social responsibility and thus appreciation of the individual and organization in the general public. According to proponents of whistle blowing, the ultimate social and economic development among members of an organization is dependant on involved individual workplace responsibility. On the other side, protecting the goals and objectives of an organization entails mitigating of any unethical behavior in a firm. This is crucial in promoting the social responsibility of the firm. True to the word, an organization must ensure the social, health, and economic safety of all members in the community. Such can only be realized through promoting and safeguarding whistle blowing practices in the organization.
However, whistle blowing has a number of negative implications to both the individual and the organization. First, the practice can compromise the employment of the whistle blowers. According to the underlying provisions of employment in most organizations, reporting of unethical behaviors must be guided with confidentiality and concern for the reputation of the organization in the general public. On the other side, whistle blowing involves disclosure of unethical behaviors even to external parties. Based on this reasoning, whistle blowing can bring conflict of interests among stakeholders in the organization, a factor that serves to enhance victimization and firing or demotion of employees.
In addition, whistle blowing is blamed for negating the realization of sustainable interpersonal relationships in the organization. It is commonly claimed that buffing in business is instrumental in enhancing the short term economic prosperity in the organization. On the other hand, members of an organization engaged in unethical practices seek to enhance their personal social and economic desires. This means that engaging in whistle blowing can no doubt create suspicion and sense of betrayal among the employees of an organization. Indeed, whistle blowers are commonly branded as an obstacle to the life of other members in the workforce, a factor that negates their social coexistence with others in the company.
On a personal opinion, whistle blowers play a vital role in promoting ethical business behaviors in organization. This is quite crucial in protecting and strengthening the long term reputation of the organization. Whistle blowers also function to eliminate damage and liability costs brought by unethical practices in the organization. Nevertheless, how, where, and when unethical practices are disclosed remains quite important in determining their fruitful implications on both the company and the whistle blower. It is due to this reason that organization should implement effective whistle blowing policies to mitigate the negative reputation implications that might be brought by the practice.
In conclusion, whistle blowing has both positive and negative consequences to the whistle blower. It can serve to eliminate their chances of harassment, victimization, and/or bearing of liability costs in the organization. On the other hand, the practice can function to compromise the interpersonal relationships among members of the organization as well as tarnishing the reputation of the company in the marketplace. This dictates for having checks and balances while allowing for whistle blowing practices in any investment.