Being a whistleblower isn’t easy, but one person who stands alone – who stands for the truth and defends what’s right – can make a difference to thousands.
Fraud and misconduct are considered “white collar” crimes, but that doesn’t make them any less injurious to those whose lives are affected. The fact is that every whistleblowing case of fraud and misconduct is having a negative impact on peoples’ lives far beyond the immediate circumstances of the case.
Whistleblower cases sometimes involve employees who have worked at a company for years, and who were initially reluctant to believe what they suspected of their co-workers (and, in some cases, friends) could possibly be true. And it was only after much soul-searching, a great deal of honesty, and reaching out for professional consultation that many whistleblowers decided to do the right thing and come forward.
The Whistleblower Hotline was intended to offer a resource to such folk. We understand the dilemma and difficulties whistleblowers face. And in our experience as whistleblower attorneys we have seen three truths repeated again and again:
- Question your assumptions.The firm you have worked for for years could be hiding something. Your favorite executive who is “like family”? He or she could be hiding something. Fraud is not easily detected, but when your suspicions are aroused by a failure to receive satisfactory answers, your gut instincts may be right. .
- Never underestimate the importance of company culture.A lot of companies pay lip-service to “transparency” while maintaining a culture of self-serving protection. This kind of weakness in corporate or organizational governance is not limited to a “small town mentality”; it extends to multi-national companies across the globe.
- Becoming a whistleblower often demands personal courage. Whistleblowers often find that, after they speak up, people come to them with their own stories of ethical dilemmas at work. They usually want to know how the whistleblower had the courage to speak up when others didn’t. They want to know “the secret” of what it takes to do the right thing.
The “secret” is courage. Whistleblowers come from all levels of employment. You will usually never see their names in the news. They are often not high-level executives, just people who saw an ethical problem in a company, weighed the consequences of telling the truth – and decided to speak up.
If you or someone you know is trying to decide what to do about fraud, misconduct, or malfeasance, contact us for a free and confidential consultation now.