The origins and effects of public servant confidence in whistleblowing protection regimes

Abstract

We examine the various whistleblowing regimes in Canada which, across 13 provinces and territories and a single federal government, exhibits theoretically interesting variation on procedures, incentives and protections that are well positioned for comparative analysis. Drawing on a panel of Canadian public servants, we conducted a survey with both descriptive and experimental dimensions to identify and measure knowledge and confidence in the context of diverse whistleblowing regimes, and how that relates to perceptions of the legitimacy of unauthorized public disclosures. We find that confidence is high among public servants despite variation in the structure of whistleblowing regimes, is enhanced when respondents know the number of reported wrongdoings and their results, and that greater knowledge of whistleblowing protections delegitimizes unauthorized public disclosures (e.g., leaking to the media) of alleged wrongdoing.

To blow the whistle in Brazil: The impact of gender and public service motivation

“…Although several rationales account for the under‐supply of whistleblowing, a lack of confidence in whistleblowing protection regimes and fear of reprisal furnish key explanations (Caillier 2012; Mayer et al . 2013; Doberstein & Charbonneau 2020). As illustrated by our review of whistleblowing legislation, Brazil needs improved safeguards.…”