No one wants to be a whistleblower, nor does anyone wish to be the target of a whistleblower either.
However, the function is a necessary and worthwhile safeguard to ensure compliance, especially where any business is and has to be secretive in what it is doing.
As the article says, the Barclays boss is very lucky to still be employed and also not sufficiently reprimanded to be blackballed from future banking roles, though one might think he is as close as he could be to that status.
Privacy for this function of whistleblowing is key and is enshrined in law in some countries. Long may that continue.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44081942
