According to the most recent National Business Ethics Survey:
- 45 percent of US workers have observed wrongdoing
- 65 percent of those who witnessed wrongdoing reported it
- 46 percent of those who observed wrongdoing but chose not to report it cited fear of retaliation as the reason
Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe that reporting wrongdoing is an act of disloyalty to their employer. However, those who report wrongdoing are acting in the best interests of the University and are helping everyone experience a better work environment.
People who report wrongdoing are being loyal to the University’s mission, goals, code of conduct and community-at-large. The University can only address wrongdoing when it is brought to the attention of the appropriate university officials. Employees are the most important resource for ensuring this happens.
The UT Code of Conduct specifically prohibits retaliation for reporting wrongdoing. If you are a supervisor, communicate openly with employees about reporting wrongdoing and ensure they understand their protection from retaliation. Supervisors should also take concerns seriously and quickly report it to the proper university officials.
For more information, refer to the UT Code of Conduct under “Responsible Reporting of Suspected Violations and University Response” at https://conduct.tennessee.edu/ or the UT Website for reporting concerns https://audit.tennessee.edu/report-concerns/.
