Whistleblower Laws and Ethics
ETHICAL STANDARDS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: A GUIDE FOR GOVERNMENT LAWYERS, CLIENTS, AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, Patricia Salkin, ed., American Bar Association, 2008
62 Pages Posted: 27 May 2010
Date Written: 2008
Abstract
This chapter is an overview of the law and ethics of whistleblowing. It begins with the reasons why whistleblowing is so controversial and then focuses on the conflict between competing public policies that has led to a statutory erosion of the at-will employment doctrine. Next, federal and state whistleblower statutes and their underlying purposes are examined, as are statutory financial incentives meant to encourage whistleblowers. Finally, the chapter concludes by analyzing special issues encountered by in-house counsel and government lawyers who are placed in the role of whistleblower.
Keywords: whistleblowing, whistleblower, ethics
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