Common Issues (04/01/24)

• Whistleblowing = when an employee discloses wrongdoing to employer or the public
• Whistleblowing is not a personal complaint or greivance but a report of something that affects or threatens to effect others
• Risks associated with Whistleblowing

  • danger of job loss
  • lack of trust in future
  • not always protected by law (In Uk, Yes)
  • reputaional damage
• Public Intrest Disclosure Act = does not cover those making personal grievances or those in the armed/intelligence services due to security risks.
• Whistleblowing can cause issues with contracts and from ''prima facie''= from first impression: a duty of loyalty to ones employer.
• Case Study: Erin Brokovich

  • uncovered water contamination
  • a coverup from big business
  • company had paid medical bills of those affected to hide contaminated water
• Case study: David Kelly

  • exposed lack of WMDS in Iraq
  • found dead in 2003
• Case Study: Alyson O'Connell

  • whistleblew poor care, lack of oxygen access for patients in carehome
  • dissmissed 2 years later
  • regreted whistleblowing
• Alan Sugar believes that decisions to be have good ethics are nothing more than a marketing tactic and not all businesses should practice good ethics as good business.
• Some believe good ethics is good business as there should be nothing different in decisions made by a business.
• Case Study: 2008 recession

  • good ethics is sometimes good business
  • the recession could have been prevented if others greed had been more controlled
• Globalisation: describes the integration of economies, industries, markets, culture and policy making around the world
• The size of global companies mean their stakeholders stretch from national governments to child workers in developing countries
• Case study: Mcdonalds

  • globalised company
  • Over 120 countries have a Mcdonalds worldwide
• Enviromental and Social Governance = a way of linking good ethics and good business