Question 1

Organizations can prevent the embarrassment and potential financial ruin caused by whistle-blowing by creating an internal system that gives whistle-blowers the option of being heard,thus resolving the issue in private.

Accepted Answer

By providing an internal system for whistle-blowers to report concerns, organizations can address and resolve issues before they become public and potentially damaging to the company's reputation and finances. This can prevent the need for individuals to blow the whistle publicly and can also allow the organization to take corrective action more quickly.

Question 2

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 introduced a new reward program for whistle-blowers who report securities law violations to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Accepted Answer

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act of 2010 introduced a new reward program for whistle-blowers who report securities law violations to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Question 3

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 first addressed the issue of retaliation against corporate employees who bring accusations of unethical behavior.

Accepted Answer

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 addressed the issue of retaliation against federal employees who bring accusations of unethical behavior.

Question 4

The False Claims Act of 1863 specifically protected whistle-blowers from retaliatory behavior.

Accepted Answer

The False Claims Act of 1863 offered no specific prohibitions against retaliatory behavior.

Question 5

Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act of 2010,a whistle-blower is penalized stiffly for acting against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Accepted Answer

Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act of 2010, a whistle-blower is protected from retaliation for reporting violations to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The act provides incentives and protections for individuals who provide information about securities violations to the Securities and Exchange Commission or Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Question 6

Currently,legal protection for whistle-blowers who are federal employees exists only through legislation that encourages the moral behavior of employees who feel compelled to speak out,without offering any safeguards against retaliation aimed at them.

Accepted Answer

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 addressed the issue of retaliation against federal employees who bring accusations of unethical behavior. The act imposed specific performance deadlines in processing whistle-blower complaints and guaranteed the anonymity of the whistle-blower unless revealing the name would prevent criminal activity or protect public safety.

Question 7

The evidence of a company's misconduct-even if supported by genuine,documented proof-will be rejected and the case dismissed if there is evidence that the whistle-blower was motivated by financial gain.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. The evidence of a company's misconduct will not be automatically rejected and the case dismissed simply because the whistle-blower may have a financial motivation. The validity and credibility of the evidence will be evaluated, regardless of the whistle-blower's motivation. However, the motivation of the whistle-blower may be considered in determining appropriate legal remedies or penalties.

Question 8

For a whistle-blower hotline to work,trust must be established between employees and their employer.

Accepted Answer

Trust is essential for employees to feel comfortable using a whistle-blower hotline to report unethical or illegal behavior within their organization. Without trust, employees may fear retaliation or feel that their concerns will not be taken seriously. Therefore, it is true that trust must be established between employees and their employer for a whistle-blower hotline to be effective.

Question 9

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 did not apply to federal employees.

Accepted Answer

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 did apply to federal employees.

Question 10

The abbreviation "qui tam" establishes a whistle-blower as a deputized petitioner for the government in cases that expose fraudulent behavior of companies.

Accepted Answer

This is correct - "qui tam" lawsuits allow private citizens (whistleblowers) to sue for fraud on behalf of the government, and if successful, they may receive a portion of the damages.

Question 11

Tracking the history of internal whistle-blowing is easier than tracking the history of external whistle-blowing.

Accepted Answer

Since internal whistle-blowing rarely receives media attention, it is impossible to track the history of such actions.

Question 12

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 not only prohibits retaliation against whistle-blowers but also encourages the act of whistle-blowing itself.

Accepted Answer

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 includes provisions that protect whistle-blowers from retaliation and also provides incentives for individuals to report unethical or illegal activities within a company.

Question 13

The whistle-blower hotline is used by the government to keep track of whistle-blowers.

Accepted Answer

The whistle-blower hotline is actually used for whistle-blowers to report any wrongdoing, fraud, or abuse they witness within the government. It is meant to protect the anonymity of the whistle-blower and ensure that their concerns are addressed.

Question 14

Becoming a whistle-blower and taking the story public should be seen as the first resort rather than the last.

Accepted Answer

Becoming a whistle-blower and taking the story public should be considered as a last resort as it can have severe consequences for the individual, including retaliation by the employer, legal action, and damage to their professional reputation. It is recommended to exhaust all internal reporting channels before going public.

Question 15

Whistle-blowers,throughout history,have always been granted legal protection against retaliatory behavior.

Accepted Answer

Prior to 2002, legal protection for whistle-blowers existed only through legislation that encouraged the moral behavior of employees who felt themselves compelled to speak out, without offering any safeguards against retaliation aimed at them.

Question 16

Before the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 was passed,whistle-blowers weren't entitled to any sort of monetary reward from the government.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Before the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989...

Question 17

The "Office of the Whistleblower" was created by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Accepted Answer

The Office of the Whistleblower was indeed created by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2011 as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Its purpose is to receive and investigate tips from individuals who report potential violations of securities laws, and to provide monetary rewards for those whose information leads to successful enforcement actions.

Question 18

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act of 2010 stipulates that if more than $1 million is collected,the whistle-blower is entitled to between 10 and 30 percent of the monies collected.

Accepted Answer

This is correct. The Dodd-Frank Act does indeed state that a whistle-blower who reports a violation resulting in the recovery of more than $1 million can receive between 10 and 30 percent of the monies collected.

Question 19

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 is also known as the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act.

Accepted Answer

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 is not known as the Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Act. The two are separate pieces of legislation.

Question 20

An employee can anonymously alert a company of suspected misconduct within the organization using the whistle-blower hotline.

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blower hotlines allow employees to report suspected misconduct while remaining anonymous.

Quiz 7: Blowing the Whistle