Blowing the whistle can be a thankless job. More than one-third of respondents who reported wrongdoing and were identified as the source were either threatened with or received a reprisal as a result, according to a 2010 survey by the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent “quasi-judicial” agency that hears federal employees’ appeals of removals, demotions and suspensions.
While those dangers are still prevalent, blowing the whistle on concerns or evidence of wrongdoing at the company you work for may be getting a little easier. John Kostyack, the executive director of the National Whistleblower Center advocacy nonprofit, says he believes “there’s never been a better time to be a whistleblower in this country.”
“We like to destroy the myth that in order to help fight corruption or wrongdoing, you have to sacrifice your livelihood and put yourself and your family at risk,” he said. “You can do this confidentially [and] anonymously, and you can benefit financially.”