The Top Five Barriers to Reporting Workplace Wrongdoing

While most people know that reporting wrongdoing makes the workplace safer and better for everyone, one in three public sector employees in Alberta are unlikely to do so1. This is just one of the insights gained in a recent survey conducted by the Public Interest Commissioner’s office. Understanding the reasons why shines a light on how to overcome barriers.?

In 2024, the Public Interest Commissioner surveyed public sector employees to gauge awareness of our office and gain insight into factors that may inhibit people from coming forward when they perceive wrongdoing at work. ?

The top reasons why people don’t report workplace wrongdoing?? ?

• “Fear I would be retaliated against if I made a complaint”?

• “My identity would not remain protected”?

• “If wrongdoing was found, nothing would change”?

• “Unsure what Public Interest Commissioner’s office does”?

• “Unsure of where to start/how to make a complaint”?

Fear of reprisal, confidentiality and skepticism about effecting change are understandable barriers. Yet, when considered alongside the measurement of awareness, we begin to see opportunities to overcome some of those obstacles.?

The survey also showed that the vast majority of public sector employees are either unaware of or unsure of the existence of an organization dedicated to investigating complaints about wrongdoing in the public sector and protecting complainants. And only 5% of respondents who believed such an organization existed could name either the Public Interest Commissioner or the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act that we administer.?

Part of our commitment to Alberta’s public interest is bridging this gap in awareness, so that public sector employees know their rights and their protections.??

More insights about the survey, along with information about how the Public Interest Commissioner’s office is working to increase awareness and engagement, is available at yourvoiceprotected.ca. ?

[1] Identifying Barriers to Reporting Workplace Wrongdoing, Public Interest Commissioner, February 2025. Statistically significant, providing a confidence level of 95 percent, a Z-score of 1.96 with a margin of error of +/- 1.48 percent. Based on a total of 4,335 completed responses from a random survey of a potential population of 320,000 public sector employees.