MovieChat Forums > Serpico (1973) Discussion > Where does it say.....

Where does it say.....

posted 13 years ago by mws91
6 replies | jump to latest

that an employee must report unethical or corrupt behavior, even if it means being labelled a rat and/or risk blackballed from his/her career field because of being branded as a whistleblower?

I've researched the topic high and low; read several books on whistleblowers and could not find anything about what happens to those who know about such behavior/refuse to go along with such behavior, but do not report it.

Even with whistleblower hotlines and proper channels, it still does not work because somehow, word always gets out. What's more the whistleblower endures a lot of emotional stress during the oft several-times-delayed trial. I mean sure when something's being done about it the whistleblower still has to keep his/her head above water while still employed at the employer in question.

I've read enough to know that it never works. There's still corruption in the police force, corporate fraud, political corruption, etc.

What about those who don't blow the whistle, but don't participate in the unethical/corrupt/illegal and turn a blind eye? What do you call those people? I'd rather be one of those than be a whistleblower?

[–] Gdub33 13 years ago

Based on my business ethics class, you are responsible for reporting any wrongdoing and not doing so is illegal. By not reporting corrupt or illegal behavior you are aiding and abetting them in breaking the law.

So for example, if you are aware of insider trading at your company and don't report it you can get many years in prison for fraud.

I'd rather be a whistle blower, at least I'd have my pride, than just sitting idly by and watching people act unethically/illegally.

The problem with the NY police force was that higher ups in the ranks acted unethically and didn't do anything to fix the corruption. ~10% of people(employees) will always do the right thing, ~10% of them will always do the wrong thing. 40% will do the wrong thing if there is not a proper example set by their supervisor, and 40% will do the right thing if upper management is legit. This 80% can be swayed in either direction based on how good the management is, but there will always be about 10% corruption no matter what. But with only 10% corruption it is much easier to weed out those bad employees and to try to gradually lower that 10%.

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S you in your A's Don't wear a C and J all over your B's

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Strazdamonas 12 years ago

What about those who don't blow the whistle, but don't participate in the unethical/corrupt/illegal and turn a blind eye? What do you call those people?

dead.

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Applied Science? All science is applied. Eventually.

[–] Apolyon 12 years ago

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing
-Edmund Burke -

[–] mark6785 12 years ago

There was a whistleblower recently in England, worked for the NHS (health service)and had witnessed extreme incompetance across the board, resulting in many deaths.
not corruption so not illegal? corporate manslaughter due to negligence you could say - so just as illegal as corruption.

Anyhoo They PAID the guy off!
"Retire now - heres a big pension - IF you keep your mouth shut"
The reason he was in the paper recently was because he hadnt kept quiet and had blown the whistle - AND THEY WERE SUING HIM!

Now what sort of legal system allows these criminals to publicly admit that on top of their illegal activities they bribed this guy not to inform on them - and when he did, they want their money back?

[–] mws91 12 years ago

Exactly, it never works.