What is employee whistle blowing?

Employee whistle blowing is when an employee of a government agency or private enterprise discloses to the public or to an authority information about an illegal or unethical activity being perpetrated within the organization. Whistle blowers typically expose corruption, malfeasance or mismanagement, but they may reveal any type of wrongdoing.

Although whistle blowing has happened throughout history, it has been increasingly recognized and encouraged in the United States since the 1960s. In some cases, whistle blowers are protected by law against retaliation from their employers; however, it is not uncommon for them to be fired or to quit after blowing the whistle.