Military members and veterans can suffer the moral injury of a combat zone but also the conflicts that come from a loss of faith in their leadership to do the right thing. They face other trauma from sexual assault and harassment, bullying, hazing and discrimination within the ranks. The closed military system is the genesis for the “go along to get along” mentality. So how do active duty service members speak out and what whistleblower protections are still needed so that these internal violations and crimes can be prosecuted. 

Whistleblower families make sacrifices and suffer the victimization along with the employee. They give up socioeconomic status, live in fear of retaliation, worry about home security, but they do not always understand the nature of the whistleblowing and the prolonged court cases that are sometimes under seal.  Children are aware of cyberbullies and doxing that means that they have to change their lifestyle and limit socialization.  Family members can feel helpless, hopeless and ineffective.  Often they are hospitalized and in treatment for depression and anxiety.

A hostile work environment not only damages the employee it victimizes but transcends organizational culture. With years of training in diversity and inclusion in most corporations, it still happens. Women and minorities suffer at greater rates often without compensation or damages to make them whole.  How do we better and more comprehensively evaluate the psychosocial damages caused by retaliation and make whole the person who has suffered because of their disclosures with accountability measures keeping the workplace safer. 

When health care providers fail to disclose wrongdoing, patients die or are injured without anyone knowing the cause. Yet, fear of being investigated, loss of credentials, and insurance hikes keep many providers quiet about what they see and hear.  The brave few become whistleblowers but risk everything to do so.  How can healthcare workers improve their agencies and work together to form a circle of support.