Question

1.What strategies/steps would you take if you witnessed your coworkers displaying unethical or illegal behavior in the workplace

Answer 1

Ask questions
Remember: little piece of fact does not show the whole truth. When it comes to whistleblowing, you should never jump into conclusions without learning to figure out the whole picture. There are always good chances that you might misunderstand the situation. Therefore, keep your positive thinking and confront the person you suspect. Gather courage and ask them the right questions regarding their behaviours.

Gather all the facts and findings
When you confront the person and they seem like hiding the truth, only then you can suspect that something fishy is going on. Upon facing this situation, you have to gather all the facts and evidences that will prove your suspicion.

You simply cannot just go around and accuse someone of committing illegal acts without strong evidences. Read the company guideline about ethical and unethical behaviours to ensure what your coworkers do is wrong, as well as learning what laws are being violated.

Seek help from trustworthy third-party
Have you got the whole story and scrutinised the situation? The next thing to do is seeking for help from third party. By consulting with a trusted person, you can gain better insights about the options to explore and the potential consequences of unveiling the truth.

However, you should be careful in choosing whom to open up. Avoid sharing such sensitive issues with your co-workers. Instead, go to the HR department or your supervisors to talk it out.

File the report
After confirming everything, holding evidences, and considering the consequences, now you are ready to file the report. Follow the company’s procedural guidelines when filling out the required paperwork.

Make sure to complete them within the designated timeline and submit your evidence along. You should be prepared to involve in further investigation process, such as giving in-depth testimony.

Keep it to yourself
Even if the unethical behaviours at work observed might be true, you should never share it with your coworkers. Keep your ethics by not spreading such issues, as it will only hamper your reputation and credibility
thoughts and opinions!
TAGS: EVIDENCE • FEATURED • TIPS • UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR • WHISTLEBLOWING
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