Which statement corresponds to Criterion 3 of the whistleblowing framework?

• A. The employee must ignore internal procedures
• B. The employee must obtain a court order
• C. The employee must wait for a government probe
• D. The employee has exhausted internal procedures and gone to the board of directors

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that responsible whistleblowing follows a progression that first uses internal channels and escalation to governance before any external action. The statement that aligns with this path is the one where the employee has already exhausted internal procedures and has escalated the issue to the board of directors. Reaching the board represents tapping the highest internal governance level, ensuring that the concern is reviewed with proper authority and due process within the organization before considering external steps. This approach supports accountability and internal remedy, showing that the employee sought to fix the problem through established channels.

By contrast, skipping internal procedures, waiting for a government probe, or requiring a court order would bypass the structured process designed to handle concerns internally and at the board level, delaying remedy and potentially undermining organizational accountability.