A whistleblower is a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organisation that is either private or public.
In US employment law, a whistleblower is an employee who reports illegal activities of the employer. Various acts and statutes afford protection to the whistleblower against employer retaliation. Special whistleblower acts also protect specific groups such as federal government employees and members of the military. Collectively these are called whistleblower laws. From the investor’s perspective, a credible whistleblower may signal that there are serious management issues at a firm which could create significant liabilities. The whistleblower, however, is typically protected even if the allegation proves false, as long as the whistleblower believed the reported activity was illegal. Whistleblower claims that come to light must, therefore, be evaluated with care. The term whistleblower is sometimes written as one word, whistleblower.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 28th March, 2024.
To help you cite our definitions in your bibliography, here is the proper citation layout for the three major formatting styles, with all of the relevant information filled in.
- Page URL:https://dlssolicitors.com/define/whistleblower/
- Modern Language Association (MLA):Whistleblower. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. March 28, 2024 https://dlssolicitors.com/define/whistleblower/.
- Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):Whistleblower. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. https://dlssolicitors.com/define/whistleblower/ (accessed: March 28, 2024).
- American Psychological Association (APA):Whistleblower. dlssolicitors.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from dlssolicitors.com website: https://dlssolicitors.com/define/whistleblower/