What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is defined as the act of reporting unethical or illegal activities that occur within an organization, typically performed by an employee who becomes aware of these activities. This can include actions like fraud, harassment, safety violations, or other misconduct that may harm the organization or its stakeholders. Whistleblowers play a crucial role in promoting accountability and transparency in organizations, often facing personal and professional risks in the process.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of whistleblowing. Encouraging employees to take risks does not relate to the act of reporting misconduct and could potentially lead to further issues if the risks taken are unethical or illegal. Submitting a compliance report to management is a part of a company’s standard operating procedures and does not necessarily involve the reporting of wrongdoing. Maintaining confidentiality in professional conduct, while important, is unrelated to the concept of whistleblowing, which often involves disclosing information that is otherwise concealed.