Retaliation against whistleblowers is often thought to be a series of noticeable events. It starts with turning a previously positive workplace into a hostile one. Isolation is used like a weapon. Work assignments change dramatically.

Aaron Nicodemus is the Editor-in-Chief of Compliance Week. He previously worked as a reporter for Bloomberg Law and as business editor at the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, Mass. Email: aaron.nicodemus@complianceweek.com LinkedIn:...