When an employee discovers immoral, illegal or unethical actions at work, the employee makes a decision about what to do with this information. Whistle blowing is the term used to define an employee’s decision to disclose this information to an authority figure. Whistle blowing leads to good and bad results. The benefits of a carefully considered whistle blowing can lead to the end of unethical business practices.

    The ethics of whistle blowing has normally been deemed negatively. Workers are often torn between their moral and legal obligation to report any irregular activities and their loyalty towards their companies. To save employees from such a critical choice, companies should institute a formal ethics of whistle blowing mechanism wherein employees can freely report irregularities. A company that refuses to do something about a reported illegal activity is guilty of tolerance. In such cases, whistle-blowing may be the most ethically practical action.

    The issue of the proper ethics of whistle blowing is troubling because there is an inherent conflict between an employee's loyalty to the organization and the employee's potential legal obligation to report apparently fraudulent activities to the proper authorities. Complicating the matter concerning the ethics of whistle blowing is the potential for significant financial gain for the whistle-blower if he or she does report such activities.

    Whistle blowing would seem to be an act of remarkable moral courage. Indeed, if whistle blowing is dependent solely on individual conscientiousness or self-sacrifice in the face of indifference or retaliation, then such acts will remain relatively rare. In examining the ethics of whistle blowing it is important to consider the objections of the “moral hero” myth, before considering a moral assessment, and conclusion can be made.

    Whistle blowing has several objections from various moral agents that are critical to evaluating on the basis of the ethics of whistle blowing.  From the business organization’s perspective, it is unethical for an employee to leak confidential information outside of the organization. Thus, the act of whistle blowing may be morally justified as an individual obligation to act. Throughout history, there have been no known societies which do not contain moral codes against harming others.

    However, when considering disclosing information that would be deemed detrimental to the company you must take into consideration the ethics of whistle blowing and seeking the advice of competent lawyer to protect your rights and legal options.

    Hence, this ethics of whistle blowing might then impact how individuals perceive their moral responsibilities and support a conception of whistle blowing, not as an act of disloyalty, but as an act of virtue.