Submitted 09/28/06 Analysis — The article about Richard Bagley gives us a good example of what whistle blowing can cost to an individual, not only in two aspects. the monetary aspect but in his Jifein general. The text can be divided ee the econompig, factor; as provided with many examples on the article, most of the people \Who encounter a fraud situation from their employer or witness unethical business behavior are people who is in managerial positions, managers who have access to confidential information within the company. In the case of Richard Bagley at the time he claimed TRW was wrongdoing the government with inflated cost and imaginary expenses, he was working as fpp financial manager in charge of 600 employees. At this point in his career the risk of whistle blowing was of immense consequence to him; after all, he was not putting in danger a small salary and benefits, Bagley was risking $ 180,000 salary and 26 year career. | GGgNarily the impact of Bagley’s action in his life was devastating; Whistle blowing cost him losing his job, friends, and life style. Bagley’s life was confined to a small apartment and “raising bran for breakfast and cutting out meat altogether.” All this facts make us wonder t prige that an individual has to pay for being ethical in our society. As stated in the article the chances of litigation success if thewhistle-blower goes alone is meager 5% and about 80% if the federal government joins the case asa co-plaintiff, Despite al the mentioned dificult Richard Bagley’ ation was correct; the ations of whistleblowers are potentially beneficial to society it prevents businesses to engage in unethical practices that could damage employees and communities in general as we have seen in Enron and world com a Fis blowing demands a lot of courage from the person who will do the claim, therefore an employge who witness unethical business practice must think carefully before making the decision because whistle blowing can have exiggme consequences as we have seen in all the examples provided by the yes, The government has approved tights and protections for whistle blowers such as the OSHA act “Section 11(c) of the Act prohibits any person from discharging or in any manner discriminating against any employee because the employee has exercised rights under the Act.” Tt was quite sad that Mr. Bagley’s colleagugsshied away from him when they learned that he filed a whistle-blower suit against TRW. Many of his colleagues have been working with him for more than a quarter-century and chose to leave him. That showed either they have never {rusted him or their GST gir job eos Were HOT for Their job securities Were, . ee Ficknesy hand, they did not do anything against him when they learned about Mr. Bagley’s ethical ff ‘On the one standard. They just kept a little distance from him just in case they might have some wrongdoings and would be revealed by him. On the other hand, by shying away from him, they showed disapproval to his ethical behavior.Ql what do you think about Mr. Bagley's colleague’ attitudes when he became a whistle blower? Q2 ifyou were Mr Bagley, what shall you do based on professional and/or your ethical standard? To answer the questions regarding Bagley’s colleagues’ altitude once he became a whistle blower: In our group's opinion, Bagley’s colleagues, as employees of the organization, felt helplessly against him because it is a usyalaction of human-heing forahe ane that cause troubles on their job, So itis not that surprising to see this kind of feSeBS from Bagley’s friend. This point we sedriar that o be a whistle-blower, man should bear in mind about the negative feedback from the society that coming afterward. = (Our group thinks that Bagley should have reported the TRW2s wrongdoings since the first time he had liscovered therp, or he should have chosen to resign fromthe company. To prove his wo cumple s fs ie cthiCal action, he would havelreported to the related agenties éven when he just learned a little about the false behavjgr. In that cage, he could remain his honest to professional standard but still wouldn't get involved into the case that he didn’t not know the fully fact yet. Itis the government 2 ‘would like to believe the whistle-blowers’ word and start an investigation or n To answer question 2, Bagley’s ethical standard was not that great either. He had quizzing TRW’s top managers since 1980s but he did not do anything until 1993 when he got laid off. His whistle-blower suit might be justa personal revenged to the.company. If he was really holding to spl, proeornet bared ov jdealicwe,his professional ethics, he would have left his job and reported to the related agencies long time ago when he started questioning. Comments Although Bagley’s case had a happy ending that is not the ease of many people who has engaged ina similar situation, this make us think abouLour socigty and how morals and.ethics are getting lost in the dgsixe for money and power. As future managers and, head gf companies is our obligation to protect the tlh and the interest of our community; Bagley’s ease should be remember as an action of courage and determination. = |__=—* Works eit Section 11(c) Federal US OSHA Act iri.uvm.edu/ppvesseincentive/ts| itm, tc