3 - Whistleblowing Subcultures at Amazon

Summary

Public whistleblowers can struggle to gain support. Working with colleagues can help. When formal shields like laws and official channels prove useless, whistleblowers can turn to other workers in the same situation. This is illustrated with the case of Christian Smalls, warehouse manager at Amazon who was fired for speaking out about health and safety issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christian went public with his disclosures, supported by close colleagues initially and quickly extending his support base to senators, broadsheet journalists and prime-time TV producers, all of whom covered his struggle. Even Amazon executives came out against their company’s attacks on whistleblowers. This chapter also showcases the mistakes organizations can make when engaged in aggressive reprisal, mistakes that can backfire. Whistleblowers’ former training as managers can strengthen their capacity to strategize, organize and make the most of such unintended consequences. Whistleblower alliances with supportive colleagues are critical for success, but tensions can emerge in the high-stress and fast-changing context of an escalating and high-profile whistleblowing disclosure.