The position of the public towards whistleblowers is somewhat polarized; some perceive them as heroes while others view whistleblowers as villains. Notably, whistleblowers are characterized by fearlessness and unrelenting honesty. The notion that a whistleblower’s actions may jeopardize the source of livelihood for a vast population of workers can be intimidating for anyone that may be looking to expose unethical behavior. A whistleblower must be honest and trustworthy, or him or her to be able to understand that doing the right thing is more important than conforming and being liked. In the case study, it is evident that Cynthia suffers backlash for her action, to the extent that she descended into an episode of depression. However, since she was raised with strong family values, she understood that honesty in performing her obligations as an auditor and the eminence of conforming to an auditor’s code of conduct is more important than how she will be perceived by her immediate bosses and the entire employee population.
Whistleblowers are also steadfast individuals that are unwaveringly principled and self-driven. The extent of the opposition and backlash that one receives after exposing wrongdoing can be overwhelming for weak-willed individuals. The only people that can withstand the resentment and opposition after unraveling misconduct are those that are unwaveringly committed to what they believe is right and are devoted to ensuring ethical conduct is restored regardless of the consequences. Also, there is no financial reward for exposing wrongdoing. As a result, people that are motivated to act by external factors such as financial compensation or other rewards may be less inclined to report unethical practices. A self-driven individual would be prepared to report wrongdoing because it is what is expected of him or her, but not for extrinsic rewards.
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Lastly, a whistleblower ought to possess resolve and a fighting spirit. In the case study, it is evident that Cynthia was discouraged from examining the incident even further by her superiors, but she was determined to do what her professional code of conduct stipulates. Cynthia managed to expose the fraud because she was resilient and had a fighting spirit to ensure justice was served. The bottom line is someone who can be easily discouraged cannot be an effective whistleblower. Since I am a determined, relentless, tenacious, self-driven, honest, and principled individual, I am confident that I have what it takes to be a whistleblower.
Summary of Advice
The path of a whistleblower is full of challenges; therefore, it is imperative that I ready my relative for the difficulty that is forthcoming. Firstly, I will advise my relative to undertake a rigorous investigation to collect adequate evidence to support his claims. Secondly, he should table his concerns before his immediate supervisors, because his professional courtesy demands so. The feedback of the supervisor must be carefully considered; if his supervisor is trying to cover-up the unethical practice, it would be acceptable to traverse the hierarchy. It is not uncommon for one’s immediate supervisors to demonstrate hesitance when acting on information that could potentially reveal fraudulent activities in the company. The sluggishness of the supervisor could signify their involved in the malpractice. As a result, he must visit a fellow employee, who holds a managerial position and carefully present the evidence in his possession. In some incidents, the malpractice may have been authorized by the executive board; hence, they may tend to downplay the allegations and eventually dismiss them. In such circumstances, external intervention from an accredited auditor may be sought. The bottom line here is that reporting wrongdoing is an endeavor that may be resented, but it is all for a just course. For that reason, he should pursue it regardless of the resultant ramifications.
