Whistleblower Question of the Week: What Drives Whistleblowers to Speak Out?

By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team

Whistleblowers are often driven by a strong sense of integrity and ethical responsibility. When they witness fraud, corruption, misconduct, or threats to the public or government, they feel obligated to speak up. Their moral compass pushes them forward, especially when silence would allow harm to continue unchecked.

When institutions turn a blind eye to misconduct, whistleblowers’ resolve strengthens. They step up because no one else will.

Desire for Accountability and Justice

In many instances, whistleblowers are motivated by a desire for accountability and justice. They want to expose the truth, address systemic failures, or prevent future harm.

When a trusted organization such as an employer engages in or enables misconduct, a whistleblower may feel betrayed and want to hold the company accountable to protect colleagues, the public, customers, or others involved.

Legal Support from Whistleblower Lawyers

Experienced counsel often plays a critical role in a whistleblower’s decision to come forward. That’s where we come in! If your potential matter qualifies for one of the whistleblower programs, our team evaluates your claims, builds the strongest possible case, and guides you through every step of the process.

It is important to seek representation from experienced lawyers who know the complex laws and can help you navigate your whistleblower journey. Support from legal counsel can also empower whistleblowers to tell their story, consider variables when determining whether to be a whistleblower, and assess personal concerns (like anonymity, retaliation, or the impact of personal involvement in the conduct).

Possible Whistleblower Awards

In addition to seeking justice, financial incentives designed to encourage individuals to expose wrongdoing can also motivate whistleblowers to come forward.

Whistleblower reward programs include:

• The False Claims Act, which allows whistleblowers to file lawsuits on behalf of the government to expose fraud in areas such as healthcare or government contracting.
• The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Whistleblower Program
• The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Whistleblower Program
• The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (“AMLA”), which established the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) Whistleblower Program and strengthened protections.
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Whistleblower Program.

These programs offer rewards to whistleblowers that provide information leading to a successful enforcement action. Whistleblowers may receive up to 30% of any monetary recovery. Learn more about whistleblower financial rewards here.

Our Firm Helps Whistleblowers

As whistleblower attorney Ginger Buck explains, “Motivations may differ for every whistleblower, but many share a common belief that staying silent would cause more harm than speaking the truth.”

Blowing the whistle takes courage. With experienced counsel, you can protect your rights, strengthen your claims, and plan your next steps.

If you believe you have a case, would like to learn more about Constantine Cannon’s work representing whistleblowers, our whistleblower successes, or what it means to be a whistleblower in general, please contact us. We will connect you with an experienced member of the Constantine Cannon whistleblower team for a free and confidential consultation.

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