Protection a long shot

Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 | 2:09 a.m.

Whistleblowers have the potential to right a lot of wrongs, but if no one protects them against backlashes they are likely to repress the urge to speak up.

That is why most workplaces have adopted policies that protect whistleblowers from reprisals, such as harassment or entries in their personnel files that could harm their careers.

But policies are worthless if they are not earnestly followed. An investigation by the Associated Press has found that whistleblower protections adopted by the military are followed, but mostly by people just going through the motions.

Members of the military who suspect they are being punished for having reported possible wrongdoing have a right to appeal to the Pentagon inspector general.

A total of 3,000 appeals were filed over the past six years. The AP reported that 90 percent were rejected, most after only a cursory review.

Perhaps a main reason for so many pro forma reviews is related to something else the AP reported — an appalling lack of staff. Reprisal complaints are supposed to be settled within six months, but it is taking much longer because the number of Pentagon employees assigned to review them has dropped from 22 to 19 over the past 10 years. During that time, the workload has increased 68 percent, according to a congressional report cited by the AP.

Another reason could be related to morale within the inspector general’s office. The AP obtained a confidential survey of the workforce there. Overall it found ambivalent and demoralized employees. The survey also showed that the employees handling reprisal complaints do not believe supervisors value their work.

This is not an issue that should wait for the next presidential administration. Defense Secretary Robert Gates should commence action now by ordering that rejected reprisal complaints be reexamined. The careers of many military professionals could be on the line even though they acted in the country’s best interest. He should also address the bigger picture: How many people with critical information are not coming forward because word has gotten around that there is little recourse if they suffer recriminations?