Deck 4: Whistle-Blowing

Question 1

The main motivation for there to be whistleblower-protection laws is that whistleblowers____________.

A) represent a minority
B) are likely to be oppressed
C) benefit society
D) should enjoy freedom of speech

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is necessary for whistle-blowing to occur?

A) information
B) legal protection
C) a nondisclosure agreement
D) managing authority

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A whistle-blower is primarily motivated by____________.

A) retaliation
B) ethical concern
C) personal gain
D) fear of retribution

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Loyalty to a corporation can sometimes lead to whistleblowing if____________.

A) the corporation is a large one
B) the whistleblower enjoys legal protection
C) the whistleblower wants to see change in the corporation
D) the government is paying the employee for their information

Question 5

Explain the ironic dimension of whistle-blowing with respect to employee loyalty.

Question 6

The biggest weakness in the disloyalty argument against whistleblowing is that .

A) an employee differs in many ways from an agent
B) employees do not receive protection when whistleblowing
C) employers have no right to expect loyalty from employees
D) it does not apply to at-will employment

Question 7

Describe ways in which employers can deal with potential cases of whistle-blowing. How do they further their interests in this regard?

Question 8

Some corporations have an ombudsman, whose role is to____________.

A) blow the whistle
B) release information to the public
C) report on employees
D) hear complaints

Question 9

Describe the pros and cons of legal protection for whistle-blowing.

Question 10

All whistle-blowing policies should include____________.

A) a guarantee against retaliation
B) a guarantee of continued employment
C) a way for employees to go public
D) specific monetary awards

Question 11

The main reason that companies should have a whistle-blowing policy is that .

A) it avoids tension and strife
B) whistle-blowing helps business
C) it enhances employee satisfaction
D) wrongdoing harms them

Question 12

Employees who are most upset with a company will most often____________.

A) write to the CEO
B) simply leave the company
C) go public with their complaints
D) hope the company will reform from within

Question 13

How does the disloyalty argument against whistleblowing receive support from the law?

A) Loyalty to a single company is enforced by the law.
B) There is little legal precedent for whistleblower protection.
C) There are many laws enforcing corporate confidentiality.
D) Employees of a corporation are by legal definition agents of that corporation.