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Whistleblowing in Estonia: A Culture of Silence

A recent study has shed light on the state of whistleblowing in Estonia, revealing a culture of silence and reluctance to report corrupt behavior.

Key Findings

Respondents see general reporting as an acceptable activity for public officials, but commenting on the work of public institutions is seen as less acceptable.
Only a few ministries, police boards, tax and customs boards, and private organizations have developed their own systems for reporting corrupt behavior.
Many ministries and private organizations do not regulate whistleblowing internally.

Organizational Culture

Ministry officials emphasized the importance of internal audit systems and open organizational culture.
Some interviewees highlighted the potential negative attitude of coworkers if information on whistleblowing were to become public.
The lack of willingness to report corrupt behavior was cited as a major issue, rather than the lack of options for reporting.

Private Organizations

Few private organizations have codes of conduct or internal procedure rules that mention reporting corrupt behavior.
While some companies do have systems in place for reporting unethical behavior, these are often seen as exceptions rather than the rule.

Cultural Context

The Estonian cultural context does not appear to facilitate whistleblowing, according to key informant interviews and corruption surveys.
Corruption surveys (2004, 2005, 2007) consistently found that people are reluctant to report corrupt activities due to fear of retaliation or lack of confidence in the reporting process.

Conclusion

Estonia’s culture of silence when it comes to whistleblowing is a major concern. While there are examples of organizational culture being aimed at promoting whistleblowing, these are exceptions rather than the rule. It is clear that more needs to be done to create an environment where people feel comfortable coming forward with information about corrupt behavior.