The Perils of Whistle Blowing

The various forms of retribution that whistle blowers endure, at the hands of their employers, both financially and psychologically for having attempted to correct mismanagement, fraud, and dishonesty are often times too much for the whistle blower to bear (Glazer and Glazer, 1986, August). Careers are put into jeopardy because individuals with strong ethics decide to pursue lawsuits against their employer. For instance, US Forest Service employees have found their careers ruined through either demotions or loss of job when caught speaking out in favour of the environment or sound science, or when simply obeying the law (Schneider, 1991, July/August).