3. What is meant by the term "whistleblowing"?

Why do whistleblowers so often get into trouble when they point out questionable organizational practices? In 2007, four members of the RCMP went public with charges o f fraud, misrepresentation, corruption, and nepotism against the leadership of the RCMP.

The most senior member of the group was Fraser Macaulay, a career Mountie who had worked his w~ up through the ranks to become a senior human resources officer. While it Is very unusual for Mounties to talk publicly about fraud, nepotism. and other criminal allegations, Macaulay said he had tried to alert his bosses to problems at the RCMP, but that he was lied to, shunned, and eventually pushed out of his job for his whistleblowlng activity. Macaulay recognized that his whitle-blowlng would damage the RCMP's reputation, but he came forward because he felt that doing so would eventually make the organization a better place