Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

When a referee in a game blows the whistle, this is typically to indicate that a foul or a violation of the rules has occurred. Now when a person alerts the public to some misdeed perpetrated by an organization of which he or she is a member, we say that this person has blown the whistle. Thus was born a now popular metaphor in the English language. This chapter will discuss several examples of whistle-blowing, will outline some of the main elements of whistle-blowing, and will address some of the (sometimes neglected) ethical issues raised by this phenomenon for individuals, for organizations, and for society at large. The phrase “whistle-blowing” is most commonly used in the context of business ethics. But it is more properly situated in the larger arena of organizational ethics. Jeffrey Wigand held a PhD in chemistry and worked in research and development for the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company. He was making a handsome salary and doing quite well until he voiced objections to a plan implemented by Brown and Williamson. The company wanted to enhance the potency of nicotine in their cigarettes. By a process called impact boosting, Brown and Williamson developed a cigarette that allowed nicotine to be absorbed more rapidly by the body. Such cigarettes were apparently more addictive and more dangerous to smokers. Because of this, Wigand took exception to marketing them. As ... log in or subscribe to read full text