The history of whistleblowing in America dates back to 1773 when Benjamin Franklin became one of the first American whistleblowers when he exposed confidential letters that proved intentionally misleading acts by the governor of Massachusetts.

Since then, whistleblowing has helped to raise the alarm on corporate negligence, law-breaking, and malpractice – among other things.

There are laws in place that protect citizens if they blow the whistle, but many people remain reluctant to step forward and speak up.

If you are thinking about taking a stand and blowing the whistle, below are five things you should know first:

1. Anonymity

There are both risks and benefits to being anonymous or public during your whistleblowing journey.

Going public may expose you to professional isolation, defamation cases, and public scrutiny that may put you and your family’s safety at risk. Discuss this decision with your family and loved ones and get advice from your attorney.

While it is often advisable to remain anonymous, always be prepared for the possibility of your case going public – especially if it attracts the attention of the city or the nation.

2. Have Support

Becoming a whistleblower will likely be one of the most difficult decisions of your professional career.

Not only can it have long-lasting consequences for you, but it can also impact both you and your loved ones. Depending on the nature of your case, you and your family might be subjected to public smear campaigns and undergo psychological attacks and trauma.

You need a personal support system in place for when the going gets tough. Discuss this decision with friends and family first because they too will have to live with the consequences of your decision.

3. Seek Legal Advice

The beginning of this journey will be confusing and overwhelming. Before you know what to do, life will come at you at a million miles an hour and leave you spinning.

Take a deep breath and seek legal advice as early as possible.

Consult the experts at hkm.com for advice on how to go about blowing the whistle safely.

4. Facts

Your credibility will be the key to building your whistleblowing case.

Avoid embellishing information to make it sound more enthralling. Stick to the facts you know are reliable and true.

Straying from the facts will come back to haunt you, and once your credibility gets undermined, it is almost impossible to come back from that.

Journalists, advocacy groups, and the authorities will all be counting on your testimony and paper trail; do not jeopardize your relationship with them all for the sake of being dramatic.

5. Protect Evidence

When gathering information and evidence, it is crucial to protect and secure it before suspicions get drawn by your employer.

As soon as your employer suspects you of anything, they will destroy the evidence or block you from accessing it. Keep it secure and take as many photos as possible with your private phone.

That will help you to avoid taking original documents or copying them on an office machine that could get traced back to you.

To End

Becoming a whistleblower is a deeply personal decision, but it can have life-long consequences for you and your loved ones.

It is not a decision to take lightly, but standing up and speaking out is often the only way to get justice.

Good luck on your journey - you are braver than you know. Your testimony could change the lives of so many people, and that will make it all worthwhile.