Whistleblowing
Contents
- Introduction
- Legal References
- Washington Ordinance Provisions and Policies
- Articles
- Additional References
Introduction
Unfortunately, government officials and employees will sometimes make mistakes or engage in activities that are inconsistent with the requirements of their positions or with the public trust. Obviously, it is to the jurisdiction's benefit, and to the public trust, that improper actions be recognized and curative actions taken. Often, this may not be possible unless someone reports the improper actions. However, by making a report adverse to an official or a superior, there is a risk that, in return, an adverse action will be taken against the person who made the report. Whistleblowing policies guard against improper actions being taken against the "whistleblower." This page provides links to federal, state and local whistleblowing legislation and provides information regarding the policies that can be used to offer protection to those who want to report wrongdoing.
Legal References
- RCW 42.41 - Local Government Whistleblower Protection State statute providing whistleblowing protection.
- Federal Whistleblower Statutes - The federal whistleblower act is administered by the federal Office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This page links to the federal act and regulations, as well as to reports, procedures and complaint forms.
- Whistleblower Program, Washington State Auditor's Office
- State Employee Whistleblower Act Summary of Provision and Protections of RCW 42.40 (
), revised 03/2011
- Questions and Answers (), State Employee Whistleblower Program
- State of Washington Whistleblower Reporting Form
- State Employee Whistleblower Act Summary of Provision and Protections of RCW 42.40 (
Washington Ordinance Provisions and Policies
The following ordinances or policies set out procedures to follow when an officer or employee alleges improper action by another employee or officer. The fact that several of the policies are dated in 1993 does not detract from their usefulness, since they were adopted in response to the 1992 state law on whistleblowing; for the most little has changed since the adoption of the state law. However, when developing a local policy, it is important that the state statute be reviewed so as to incorporate any changes that were made to the original act.
City Documents
- Bellevue Municipal Code Ch. 3.80, City Whistleblower Policy and Procedures - Sets out procedures that are followed when an officer or an employee alleges improper action
- Redmond Resolution No. 946 () - Adopting a Whistleblower Protection Program, 1993
- Tumwater Employee Code of Ethics and Policy for Reporting Improper Governmental Action and Protecting Employees Against Retaliation (Whistle Blower) (), 2011
- Spokane Policy (), revised 02/2006 - Sets out procedures and forms for filing of complaints
- Vancouver Personnel Policies Whistleblower Protection (), Sec. 508,page 120, 05/19/2008
County Documents
- Kitsap County Code Ch. 3.68 - Whistleblower Protection - Sets out procedures
- Okanogan County Ordinance () - Sets procedures for reporting and safeguards
Articles
- Whistleblowing and Free Speech in Public Employment (), by Russell L Perisho, Perkins Coie, 1992 (Reproduced with permission of author) - This article provides an excellent overview of the subject of whistleblower protection for local government employees in the State of Washington. However, it was written in 1992 and has not been updated since that date. There have been several legislative amendments since that time to the Washington Local Government Whistleblower Protection Act, Ch. 42.41 RCW. Therefore, check with your city or town attorney to be certain of the current applicability of information contained in this article.
- Encouraging Internal Whistleblowing in Organizations, by Lilanthi Ravishankar, 2003 - Available from the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics of Santa Clara University
Additional References
- National Whistleblowers Center - A nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting employees' lawful disclosure of waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Government Accountability Project - Another nonprofit organization that promotes corporate and government accountability by protecting whistleblowers, advancing occupational free speech, and empowering citizen activists assisting whistleblowers.
Related MRSC Resources