Volume 86, Number 3, 379-396, DOI: 10.1007/s10551-008-9853-6

A Word to the Wise: How Managers and Policy-Makers can Encourage Employees to Report Wrongdoing

Marcia P. Miceli, Janet P. Near and Terry Morehead Dworkin

View Related Documents

Abstract

When successful and ethical managers are alerted to possible organizational wrongdoing, they take corrective action before the problems become crises. However, recent research [e.g., Rynes et al. (2007, Academy of Management Journal 50(5), 987–1008)] indicates that many organizations fail to implement evidence-based practices (i.e., practices that are consistent with research findings), in many aspects of human resource management. In this paper, we draw from years of research on whistle-blowing by social scientists and legal scholars and offer concrete suggestions to managers who are interested in encouraging internal reporting of problems requiring attention, and to observers of questionable activity who are considering reporting it. We also identify ways that research suggests policy-makers can have a more positive influence. We hope that these suggestions will help foster evidence-based practice regarding whistle-blowing.

Keywords  human resource management - legal issues - organizational wrongdoing - retaliation - whistle-blowing

Fulltext Preview

Image of the first page of the fulltext document