Whistle-Blowing in Public Sector Organizations: Evidence From Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the contributory factors that affect the whistle-blowing process in public sector organizations of Pakistan. Previous studies reveal that a perception of apathy and likely retaliation by the management, peers, and employees at large creates a culture within organizations that negatively affects whistle-blowing. Data were collected from 1,762 employees working in various public sector organizations of Pakistan through a questionnaire. Frequency tables were used to analyze the data. Results suggest that in Pakistan a number of factors, such as culture and organizational retaliation, affect the whistle-blowing process. It also highlights that some unique culturally induced factors contribute toward the employees’ perception and practice of whistle-blowing in their organizations. Results are explained in light of Hofstede’s cultural indices, which indicate that whistle-blowing is culture bound.