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Journal of Business Ethics
Published in: Journal of Business Ethics 2/2011

01-12-2011

Dissenting Discourse: Exploring Alternatives to the Whistleblowing/Silence Dichotomy

Authors: Hayden Teo, Donella Caspersz

Published in: Journal of Business Ethics | Issue 2/2011

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Abstract

In recent times, whistleblowing has become one of the most popularly debated issues of business ethics. Popular discussion has coincided with the institutionalisation of whistleblowing via legal and administrative practices, supported by the emergence of academic research in the field. However, the public practice and knowledge that has subsequently developed appears to construct a dichotomy of whistleblowing/silence; that is, an employee elects either to ‘blow the whistle’ on organisational wrongdoing, or remain silent. We argue that this public transcript of whistleblowing/silence overshadows the importance of continuing research into alternative (individual or collective) employee behaviour. Drawing on original research with a financial services organisation, our research uncovers a dissenting discourse that operates through implicit communication, such as codes, sarcasm and jokes. We suggest that this hidden transcript offers significant opportunities for employees to act ethically, and offers the potential to sustain an ethical organisational culture.
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Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Footnotes
1
We focus here upon the legislation in Australia, based on our research focus on an Australian financial services organisation.
 
2
Co-workers can be defined as the peers with whom an individual conducts the majority of his or her work interactions, but excludes those with a formal responsibility for managing the work of that individual (Hollinger and Clark 1982).
 
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Metadata
Title
Dissenting Discourse: Exploring Alternatives to the Whistleblowing/Silence Dichotomy
Authors
Hayden Teo
Donella Caspersz
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Journal of Business Ethics / Issue 2/2011
Print ISSN: 0167-4544
Electronic ISSN: 1573-0697
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-0906-x

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