Building a Team and Solidarity: Introduction

“Unlike a career or skill learned over time, safely disclosing information isn’t typically an art that people are able to practice . . . The best way to combat this lack of experience is by working with a partner — a person or group that has been through the process before and can help navigate the social, technical, and legal hurdles” Tim Schwartz, A Public Service: Whistleblowing, Disclosure, and Anonymity (2019), p. 97

“The magic word for survival is solidarity. The fatal word is isolation. The worst isolation is when someone loses their family.” Tom Devine, Legal Director of the Government Accountability Project

Who is in your emotional support team? You need one.”

Tom Devine, Legal Director of the Government Accountability Project

The two most common themes whistleblowers discuss when they recall their journey are . . . 

  1. It is difficult, and
  2. They wish they had more people supporting them or they were glad they had people supporting them. 

In this section, you will learn who you can reach out to and how you can make the most out of these relationships in order to best protect yourself and to have maximum impact.

Throughout the literature, and in discussions with whistleblowers and lawyers, there are three common ground rules for building a team:

  1. Maintain control over the process: This is usually done simply by being honest about your goals up front and agreeing on how the relationship will work.
  2. Ask team members to go along on this journey with you: Take time to build trust and strengthen the relationship with each member of your team.
  3. Check the history of your team: When approaching anyone, check their history of working with whistleblowers, especially on issues related to yours.

Disclaimer

The Signals Network does not request, encourage or counsel potential whistleblowers to act unlawfully. This section covers some key information to be aware of based on the experience of other whistleblowers who have been through this before and the people who helped them. This section doesn’t offer legal advice, and potential whistleblowers are encouraged to consult with counsel about their particular situation.