Legal Definitions - whistleblower

A whistleblower is an employee who reports illegal or unethical behavior by their employer. This behavior can violate public laws or harm a large number of people. The employer can be a public or private organization. Whistleblowers often provide information to law enforcement or government agencies.

• An employee at a pharmaceutical company reports that the company is knowingly selling a drug that has dangerous side effects.
• A government employee reports that their agency is misusing taxpayer funds.
• An employee at a manufacturing plant reports that the company is dumping toxic waste into a nearby river.

These examples illustrate how whistleblowers can expose wrongdoing that can harm the public or the environment. Without whistleblowers, these actions may go unnoticed and continue to cause harm.