EMPLOYMENT LAW: React to the answer below for the following questions:

Please explain whether you believe that whistleblowers in the workplace are heroes, villains or neither of these, and why. Especially in light of COVID-19 and healthcare issues, do you believe that current whistleblower protections go far enough to protect workers or not?

ANSWER: "Whistleblowers areindividuals who "report activities engaged in by employers or their agents that are illegal or otherwise injurious to the public" (Walsh, 2024, p.858). The individuals may be someone who reports an OSHA violation, or other violation of illegal activities that an employer (or often times a supervisor) is engaging in. Berkowitz and Thompson(2020) note that only a minute number of whistleblower retaliation complaints were being addressed during COVID, especially if a historically marginalized individual- particularly if they were black or Latinx, made the whistleblower complaint.

I do not feel like whistleblower are heroes or villains. However, I do feel like they are necessary in order to ensure that a company is working ethically and in compliant with regulations. As it was noted in our last black board discussion, OSHA is an incredibly law with A LOT of requirements. We also noted in the discussion that there are a lack of workers to do the preventative work effectively. Whistleblowers can assist this process by bringing attention to the unsafe conditions that the workplace is experiencing. I think that whistleblowers can assist in keeping workplaces safe where the government lacks the capacity to act in preventative ways. I do think, however, that it is important that reports are made in good faith, and are not made with malicious intent."

- What do you think of this answer?

-which part would you agree or disagree?

-what are the strong and weak points in this answer?