Would you be a whistleblower?

[survivor999]

Do you have the courage to do it? It's not easy...

[tavalon]

1. I've done it twice and I had to leave a job because of one of the times

but I have the sort of personality that requires my personal integrity. To be out of integrity with myself is much more painful than the outside consequences. I would do it again if necessary. I do like it when it isn't necessary better - in other words, a job where bullshit isn't going on.

[survivor999]

2. Kudos!

[slackmaster]

3. I found out that bosses were plotting to ruin a coworker, and ratted them out

A man with over 20 years of good performance reviews.

I had access to the bosses' email, and happened to catch them developing a plan to promote the guy to manager, give him an impossible task, let him fail, then fire him.

It was the kind of thing that a smart unethical boss plans under the Cone of Silence, or at least out in the parking lot where nobody can hear. You surely wouldn't put it in writing.



Or if that's out of order, the Portable Cone of Silence.



I printed a selection of email messages and gave them to the intended victim, who gave them to his lawyer.

Settlement paid by the company, $180,000.
Price paid by slackmaster, a small piece of my soul.
Sticking it to the Man, priceless.

At the time I made the discovery, I had no technically savvy supervisor. Shortly after the incident the bosses hired a strong technical manager. I could tell by her body language and attitude that she suspected me of being the leak (which was pretty obvious since I was the systems administrator). I quit before she could do anything about it.

[tavalon]

4. Brilliant!

I take it they didn't find out that you were the ones to rat them out?

[slackmaster]

5. I updated my post

A new manager was suspicious, but she couldn't prove anything and I quit anyway (for a MUCH higher paying position).

[survivor999]

8. Oh, as a sysadmin you could have gotten sued...

And you would have lost the case. Glad you left.

[slackmaster]

16. Sued, maybe prosecuted, and never employed in that capacity again

But I've always wanted to just SING!

[William769]

6. Yes!

In a New York minute!

[POAS]

7. I turned in my employer on the way out

the door to the NLRB for underpaying overtime. Got a high five from my former co-workers when they got their raises.

Another time I tried to organize the shop where I worked and lost. The company made my life hell for a couple years till I had to quit. One year after voting the union down the workers wanted me to stick my neck out again and I just handed them the business card for the union organizer. Five years later the owners sold the company and two years after that the new owners moved it to another state and all those workers that trusted the company were out on the street looking for new jobs.

[survivor999]

9. I suspect that there is so much illegal crap going on

everywhere that nobody wants to see it... Nobody can even think about it... Needs to be forgotten.

[TahitiNut]

10. I did it once big time and two other times. (The cost has been huge.)

I don't regret my choices. I cannot, however, advise another to do so unless they realize the consequences. It's a matter of whether one can live with one's self - and survive.

DO NOT expect coworkers and 'friends' to stand by your side. Unless you have some REALLY remarkable friends (I did), you'll be all alone. Co-workers will regard you as a leper - and become part of the lynch mob.

[Richard Steele]

11. Yes, and I already have been, albeit in a very small way.

And no, it's not easy. But we all have to
draw the line between right & wrong SOMEWHERE,
sooner or later.

[Rosemary2205]

12. My whistleblowing cost me my legs.

I went to the government on my ex-employer - a BIG MONEY chemical manufacturer - for illegally dumping huge amount of toxic chemicals directly into the local river. I turned over all the paperwork showing exactly what chemicals were dumped on what date. Within 24 hrs I got hit by a semi while out with my husband and was in a coma for a while and ultimate left paralyzed. I probably saved a lot of lives downstream - not to mention the wildlife. We are talking some really nasty chemicals. 5 execs from that employer and the truck driver are in jail for a very long time. I would do it again, even given the outcome -- although I would have gone about it differently to protect myself better.

[survivor999]

13. You are a hero, IMO

Sorry about what happened though.

[Rosemary2205]

15. I think anyone would have done what I did.

It was a life and death thing. People could get killed. I honestly don't know if I'd have stuck my neck out over a lesser thing and I really believe anyone would have done what I did in that circumstance -- probably most would have been smart enough to watch their backs better though. :)

[FtWayneBlue]

14. Daniel Ellsberg

was challenging anyone, anywhere with inside information that can bring the war to a halt to do so immediately.

He definitely thought it was worth it, and said he wished he had done it sooner.