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Simple English definitions for legal terms
whistleblower
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A quick definition of whistleblower:
A whistleblower is someone who tells on their boss or company for doing something wrong that hurts a lot of people or breaks the law. They usually tell the police or government officials. This can happen at any kind of job, whether it's for the government or a private company.
A more thorough explanation:
A whistleblower is an employee who reports illegal or unethical behavior by their employer. This behavior can violate public laws or harm a large number of people. The employer can be a public or private organization. Whistleblowers often provide information to law enforcement or government agencies.
- An employee at a pharmaceutical company reports that the company is knowingly selling a drug that has dangerous side effects.
- A government employee reports that their agency is misusing taxpayer funds.
- An employee at a manufacturing plant reports that the company is dumping toxic waste into a nearby river.
These examples illustrate how whistleblowers can expose wrongdoing that can harm the public or the environment. Without whistleblowers, these actions may go unnoticed and continue to cause harm.