National Whistleblower Day

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Dec 22, 2023 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Mar 09, 2022
Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath
National Whistleblower Day facts talks about whistleblower issues.

Where is National Whistleblower Day celebrated?

 National Whistleblower Day is celebrated in the U.S.

Who is National Whistleblower Day celebrated by?

National Whistleblower is celebrated by United States citizens, workers, and government officials. Both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives have passed a resolution celebrating Whistleblower Appreciation Day on July 30 since 2013.

When did National Whistleblower Day first start?

National Whistleblower Day first started with the introduction of the first U.S. whistleblower law on July 30, 1778.

Who started National Whistleblower Day?

10 whistleblowers complained against the Continental Navy commander Esek Hopkins for torturing captured British sailors. On July 30, 1778, Continental Congress passed the first whistleblower law to protect the interest of whistleblowers all over the U.S.

History And Timeline

During the height of the American Revolution in the year 1777, two navy sailors Samuel Shaw and Richard Marven were jailed because of Navy Commander Esek Hopkins.

These two sailors were jailed in retaliation of the issue exposed by eight soldiers of the Navy against Commander Esek Hopkins for committing crimes of grievous nature against British prisoners. The sailors who were arrested sent a petition to Congress, which resulted in the first Whistleblower Act in America in 1778.

In 1988, lawyer Stephen M. Kohn established the National Whistleblower Center which holds the annual celebration of this day every year.

First U.S Whistleblower Law

America's First Whistleblower protection law was passed by the Continental Congress Unanimously.

July 30, 1778

Occupational Safety And Health Administration

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was established by Congress after the Occupational Health and Safety Act came into effect. OSHA was created to ensure safe and healthy work conditions in the workplace. It is a part of the U.S Department of Labor.

April 28, 1971

National Whistleblower Center Established

Three whistleblower attorneys Stephen M. Kohn, Michael D. Kohn, and David K. Colapinto started the National Whistleblower Center in 1988.

1988

Whistleblower Protection Act 1989

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 was passed to protect whistleblowers working for the federal government of the United States. This act prevented federal agencies from taking retaliatory actions against whistleblowers who expose illegal activities in government organizations.

1989

First National Whistleblower Day

The National Whistleblower Center held the First National Whistleblower Day in 2015. Senator Chuck Grassley submitted a resolution to recognize July 30 as the National Whistleblower Day which was approved by the U.S Senate.

2015

Traditions And Customs

The National Whistleblower Center has held an annual celebration of whistleblowers on this day every year since 2015. The United States Senate Kennedy Cactus Room witnessed the first congressional celebration of National Whistleblower Day on July 30, 2015.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate National Whistleblower Day

To observe National Whistleblower Day you can learn more about important whistleblowers of the past and whistle-blowing laws.

You can also review the ethical policies of your own company or organization.

There are several books and documentaries on this subject that you can read or watch. These include 'Crisis Of Conscience' by Tom Mueller, 'Silenced' by James Spione, and 'The Corporate Whistleblower's Survival Guide: A Handbook for Committing the Truth' by Tarek F. Maassarani and Tom Devine.

Share your knowledge and start a dialogue on whistleblowers on social media by using #NationalWhistleBlowerDay.

Facts And Stats

  • National Whistleblower Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the contributions of whistleblowers around the world who have bravely exposed the fraud, abuse, and waste of the country.
  • On this day, federal agencies celebrate with educational programming that informs employees of the National Whistleblower Center (NWC) on their whistleblower rights and importance according to the federal government.
  • In 2021, the NWC hosted the largest National Whistleblower Day celebration ever with nearly 10,000 attendees. They honored over 100 whistleblowers and discussed the problems the country had and how to improve public health.

What are the pros and cons of playing a whistleblower on National Whistleblower Day?

Playing a whistleblower can have these pros: you help in fighting corruption, the wrongdoer is not rewarded, and possible financial rewards. The cons of playing a whistleblower are that your work and career may be put at risk, your allegations may not hold up without sufficient evidence, and the whistleblowing process can be very lengthy.

Why do you call honest people on National Whistleblower Day?

An honest person who exposes unsafe, fraudulent, illegal, and other crimes in a public, private or governmental organization to proper authority is called a whistleblower

Who initially led National Whistleblower Day?

10 officers in the Continental Navy reported a superior officer for his wrongdoings and abuse. This led to the American Whistleblower Law being passed on July 30, 1778.

How stakeholders can benefit from celebrating National Whistleblower Day?

National Whistleblower Day is beneficial for stakeholders because whistleblowing provides them with a channel to report concerns that are against the organization's ethics both internally and externally.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Thursday, July 30, 2020
  • Friday, July 30, 2021
  • Saturday, July 30, 2022
  • Sunday, July 30, 2023
  • Tuesday, July 30, 2024

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Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

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Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath

Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

Pratiti Nath picture

Pratiti NathBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

A Master's in Biotechnology from Presidency University and a Bachelor's in Microbiology from Calcutta University. Pratiti holds expertise in writing science and healthcare articles, and their inputs and feedback help writers create insightful content. They have interests in heritage, history, and climate change issues and have written articles for various websites across multiple subjects. Their experience also includes working with eco-friendly startups and climate-related NGOs.

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