Would staff shop the boss for illegal practices? Yes, definitely...

WHISTLEBLOWING often makes the headlines in regard to malpractice — particularly in the government and public sector where those speaking out often do so in the public interest.

However, bosses in smaller firms in the private sector better watch out. More than four-fifths of those working for small and medium-sized firms say they would “shop their boss for illegal or unethical practices in the workplace”. Worryingly, one in 10 said they were already aware of illegal or unethical practices happening where they work right now.

The research by BSA/The Software Alliance reveals that the top three issues people would be most likely to report are bullying (73 per cent), fraud (70 per cent) and theft of company property (61 per cent). In addition, more than a third of workers said they would report the illegal use of software, such as using unlicensed or counterfeit software.

When asked what would prompt them to blow the whistle on their employers, 42 per cent said “moral obligation” would encourage them to speak out, with only seven per cent admitting they would do so for financial reward.

BSA, which encourages people to blow the whistle on unlicensed software use in the workplace, offers rewards of up to £10,000 if the report results in a legal settlement. Last year, it saw a 58 per cent increase in whistleblower reports from disgruntled employees in the UK, which cost companies an average of £42,000.

With one in four pieces of software in the UK being unlicensed, BSA is launching its 2016 Fact or Fiction campaign in London to raise awareness of the issues and dangers surrounding illegal software usage.