What Happens After Whistleblowing? A Systematic Literature Review of the Post-whistleblowing Phase

In the wake of a rise in high-profile whistleblowing incidents, there has been a substantial increase in scholarly attention toward understanding the complexities of what happens after people have engaged in the act of whistleblowing. According to the current literature, this phase is often associated with significant harm for both the individuals who ‘blow the whistle’ as well as the organisations in which the wrongdoing has occurred. Given this real-world significance, together with the rapidly growing body of empirical research, a comprehensive review of the post-whistleblowing literature is warranted. The overall aim of the current review is to provide a state-of-the-art assessment of what is known about the post-whistleblowing phase and to identify how future research can advance current research and scholarship on whistleblowing. Specifically, we summarise information about current research trends and dominant theoretical perspectives evident in the post-whistleblowing literature; provide a categorisation of the different types of organisational wrongdoing; discuss the factors influencing, mediating, and moderating post-whistleblowing outcomes, and outline the methodological strengths and weaknesses of prior research. Finally, the current review highlights areas in critical need of development and paves the way for a more holistic understanding of the complete whistleblowing process, including a temporal perspective of the post-whistleblowing phase.