Ethical Climates and Contextual Predictors of Whistle-Blowing

This article presents the results of a study that investigates ethical climate theory and eight contextual predictors of willingness to blow the whistle and frequency of whistle-blowing on seven forms of misconduct. Although three of the ethical climates investigated demonstrate relationships with whistle-blowing intentions and actions, the ethical climates generally fail to predict whistle-blowing consistently. Instead, supervisory status emerges as the most consistent predictor of intentions and behaviors. Contrary to popular belief, civilian status also demonstrates significant negative relationships with whistle-blowing. Police are less inclined than civilian employees to maintain a code of silence.