Whistleblowing: The Legal Ramifications and What You Need to Know
Whistle-blowing is the act of exposing the dishonest or otherwise illegal or dodgy practices of a business, government, or other body. Unfortunately, most whistle-blowers are often targeted by the organization they expose, which can lead to significant mental and financial stress.
Fortunately, you can stay ahead of the ball by speaking with employment lawyers to develop a plan before going public. This might seem difficult, but it will be worth it in the long run – trust us.
In the rest of this article, we’ve covered whistle-blowing in Australia, the legalities of it, and a few things you should consider.
What is Whistle-blowing?
In short, whistle-blowing is the practice of exposing illegal, unethical, or otherwise dishonest information or activities. Often, these activities are being undertaken by large companies and/or businesses, who will usually go out of their way to protect their interests.
There are two types of whistle-blowing.
Internal whistle-blowing generally involves bringing something to the attention of someone within the organisation, such as a supervisor or manager. External whistle-blowing, on the other hand, involves sharing the information with an external source, such as the media or a law enforcement agency.
What Are the Risks of Whistle-blowing?
If you want to expose the practices of a large company or other organization, the chances are that they will fight back. You may be subject to any one of a number of issues, including:
- Losing your job, especially if you’re exposing the organization you’re working in.
- Lawsuits from the organization that you’ve exposed.
- A tarnished reputation.
- Difficulties getting a new job, particularly if you try to work within the same industry.
Unfortunately, these problems are all too common. Luckily, though, Australia does offer significant protection for whistle-blowers.