Developing a Culture of Whistleblowing and Empirical Examination of Whistleblowing Mechanisms

Whistleblowing is one of the most effective means of exposing and deterring wrongdoing, even though those who blow the whistle on such misconduct are often subjected to social and organizational stigma, despite their vital role in uncovering corruption. They face reprisal, demotion, harassment, and even dismissal from their jobs. As whistleblowers disclose organizational misconduct internally and/or externally to create and sustain a culture of integrity and transparency, organizations must establish effective whistleblowing channels that encourage speaking up without fear of retaliation. This project aims to positively transform perceptions toward whistleblowers through normative ethics training, compare the effectiveness of whistleblowing mechanisms across the world, and develop internal reporting mechanisms that consider the psychology of potential whistleblowers to create a culture of whistleblowing. This project fills significant gaps in examining the psychology behind whistleblowing and moves beyond existing scholarship by integrating global and local perspectives and mechanisms for whistleblowing and connecting business ethics, organizational behavior, and law literature to foster a culture of whistleblowing. Through investigating the psychological perspectives on whistleblowing and integrating the whistleblowing mechanisms in the European Union, the United States, and beyond, the project offers unique opportunities for internal whistleblowing mechanisms in Turkey and Europe.