The Boeing logo is seen at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, Jul 20, 2022. before he could provide his final deposition in an ongoing lawsuit against Boeing. John Barnett died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.
Aside from retaliation, whistleblowers also frequently lose their sense of community after coming forward. Even after coming forward and facing public attention and resentment, research indicates many whistleblowers continue to define themselves through their work community, relying on it for their sense of identity and belonging.
In the wake of Barnett’s passing, his lawyers said: “John was a brave, honest man of the highest integrity. He cared dearly about his family, his friends, the Boeing company, his Boeing co-workers, and the pilots and people who flew on Boeing aircraft. We have rarely met someone with a more sincere and forthright character.”As public figures, whistleblowers not only face retaliation from their employers, but also ire from the public.
The policy provides an incentive for whistleblowers to speak up, as well as confidentiality protection for vulnerable employees. However, monetary reward and secrecy, particularly in the context of enforcement, serves as fruitful ground for public speculation on whistleblowers’ motives. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ 2022 Report to the Nation found that a significant number of fraud cases reported in North America - 42 per cent - were detected as a result of whistleblower tips. More than half of those tips were made by an organisation’s own employees.