Blog Dis
Does the squeaky wheel get the grease?
2026-10-01
Whistleblowers are not a dime a dozen. In fact, those fearless persons who are willing to stick their neck on the line are the last persons you'd suspect. And this is due to the fact that there are so few brave enough to come forward, to put their reputation out there, for all to trash. If you were to single out anyone in your life who stood up and took a stand, you'd be hard-pressed to find even one person.
Try it. Go on. I dare you. Try to think of one person you personally know who's spoken up, doing so at the risk of destroying their career, future prospects or personal safety. I'd be genuinely surprised if you could name one individual, whether it's at work, home or in school. Maybe the one person is you, in which case, bravo! I've never personally known anyone cut from this particular cloth, a thread so finely spun and rare as to be near impossible to find.
We are programmed from the time we're toddlers to obey, to take orders, not to talk back, as well as to observe the rules from those in positions of authority, even if we end up suffering, due to their decisions. Think of the concept of conscription, where old men in positions of power declared war on another country, typically over a territorial feud, though not always about shared resources, who'll then rationalize sending young men to do their bidding. Meanwhile, these old codgers, who are not so coincidentally fat-cats, will hide in the shadows, in their safety zone, knowing that young men will be cut down, to die in an attempt to fill someone else's agenda. Young women, too, those who've volunteered behind enemy lines as medical aids.
The best current example I can think of are the leaders of Hamas, neatly and safely tucked away in their five star hotels in Iran, while Gazans die by the thousands, all because of the intifadas planned and executed by Hamas leaders. I've watched the videos on Al Jazeera TV where Hamas leaders would proudly declare, "We don't care how many Palestinians are sacrificed, so long as we achieve our goal to kill every Jew on the planet." I think this pretty much sums up my point, about leaders in positions of power. Hamas are in full control of the Palestinian Parliament, and this majority representation isn't openly challenged by the media, who rarely feature stories about the control that Hamas are able to exert in Gaza. Keep in mind the Palestinian cause has received billions in international aid, yet it is Hamas who makes the decisions, spends the money on building tunnels, not on improving the living conditions of Gazans.
Adults who are expected to be independent-minded, must learn as their first rule to becoming an adult, to think for themselves, to not allow themselves to be drawn into the rabbit hole of corruption. But it's surely not an easy road to travel, the perilous choice of being a whistleblower. It's one of the hardest roles because it requires you to be fully informed, equipped with factual knowledge, rather than to parrot back the same propagandistic views of those in power. Know before you blow that whistle, what is relevant and what is not, and what can be applied logically to arrive at a valid assessment.
Speaking up, if you're not in a managerial or director role or higher, in a room where the non-elevated out number those in elevated roles, will immediately show you the truth of people, and their sheepish natures to remain quiet, to avoid reprisal. Those who have skin in the game, and when I use this expression I refer to an elevated position to consider... well they won't step up to support you, nor are they likely to voluntarily stick their neck on the line for you.
Is it human nature to remain hidden, rather than step out into the light to fight for your rights and those of others? I wager it is more often than not perfectly normal human nature to hide. Remaining quiet, however, will leave you with fewer options to rely on people in positions of authority. In truth, they'd rather that you keep your mouth shut, and go with the flow.
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm one of these so-called mouthy persons, who'll not sit quietly by and choose to say or do nothing, while my rights and freedoms are being trampled on by those in power. I've learned the hard way, which is in fact the best way. The individuals in power want to be able to use other people to their advantage, as well as to discard someone when they're no longer of use. Companies are often guilty of avoiding the difficult situations. By this comment, I'm thinking of those sticky decisions that may result in axing a senior employee whose behavior has come into question. They'd much rather pretend there is no issue, or to sweep it aside, and this can be accomplished by dialoguing with the wronged individual, to present them with the falsehood that their best interests are being properly represented. When in reality, however, their goal is to encourage you to drop the issue, and to put your head down, and carry on, as though nothing untoward had occurred.
I recall one incident when a Government employee in a position of authority was being pushed out, and there was an inkling this was to be the end result. When my advice was solicited, given that I, too, was working for the government at the time, I reminded them of their rights to protect themselves. I recommended that they record their HR exit-meeting. I was specific too in my advice, that so long as this person advised the other parties of the meeting who were about to be recorded, they were lawfully within their right to do so. The other party, too, doesn't have the right to insist on stopping the recording. Keep in mind there are generally two HR personnel present, to provide witness for each other, while the employee had just themselves. At this point, the employee may refuse the HR request to shut off the recording, because again it is their legal right, and then HR is only empowered to stop the meeting, and this is all. Instead, the HR personnel insisted on shutting off the recording, which left the employee up the creek, and no longer in possession of a recording of what had transpired.
Rules differ between Canada and the USA. So, know your constitutional rights. In the USA, you're legally permitted to record an HR meeting, providing you're the participant in question. However, the employer can decline to participate if they refuse to consent. In Canada, however, we have a One-Party Consent Law, (Criminal Code s. 183.1) which means you don't have to give advance notice of making a recording, although it's recommended to do so regardless to avoid any claims in Civil court of surreptitiousness.
I realize that being stealthy is all the rage, given the number of hugely popular spy-thriller TV series, and I'm a big lover of them too, though it may save you some heartache in the end by being upfront.
Also, and we see this more now in Canada, when it pertains to the care of elderly parents or grandparents, many private retirement homes are openly accepting the installation of camera surveillance in a senior's suite to avoid any potential abuse. Again, and however, there is a legal requirement to post a sign outside the door of the unit.
I've veered a little off topic! 🫣
I've held this view for decades that employers have no issue taking advantage of employees. In some twisted way, this is the nature of each business relationship. An employee sells themselves, and the services they bring to the employer who then agrees to pay for said services. However, here the employer may proceed to take advantage of their new employee by pulling them into work that was never agreed upon from the outset, which now they're expected to handle competently. This business practice is commonplace. An employee pushing back and whistleblowing on this company's practices isn't a common happening. Most employees will tolerate the unanticipated workload, until they land themselves into a better paying position.
There are progressive websites now. One better known is called Glass Door which allows anyone to create an account, and users are then permitted to post honest and anonymous feedback on the work environment. This is a modern form of whistleblowing, without worry of being reprimanded. It's beneficial for all potential new hires, to read the reviews of a company's work environment, before they consign over their hours and skills. Companies, after all, are in the business to make money, which is actually no different than employees. I've heard from some Executives who state that the HR department is one of the most influential and powerful departments in every company, along with the Finance team. And, if you stop to think about it, every new employee initiative originates from within HR, to impact hiring and firings, payouts, bonuses, vacation leave, and on, after which each new initiative must be approved by the Finance management team.
There's a lot at stake in our financially challenged economies. Employees are moving toward a multi-contract job situation, where they may have two or sometimes even three contract positions, that add up to one full-time job. These roles come with few perks or zero benefits, and therefore you're wise to expect less representation on your behalf to protect your livelihood. In these instances, employees are even less likely to blow the whistle on business practices that would fall under the radar, in terms of human rights.
The squeaky wheel, therefore, doesn't always get the grease, even when a part-time employee stands up to their employer to argue in favor of fair treatment, more so if rights are being trampled on by management. We're also seeing an increased bleed of rights, such as the right to privacy, an erosion originating from within large corporations whose mobile apps request access to our phones, and therefore potentially our private lives. And many companies have cameras installed at various points. All they're required to do is advise their staff, but because we're human, we're busy, we're self-absorbed with our personal issues, most forget about the cameras.
Always read the terms and conditions, and be mindful which apps are being downloaded to your phone. It's a good piece of advice. I've come to the conclusion that nothing about my life can be kept under lock and key. I can only do my best to protect my personal information like passwords and log-in credentials, and even these apparently are known to large companies and their browsers.
There are a number of occupations that historically are about secrecy, such as those technical wizards who develop software programs for intelligence agencies. I'm sure the name of Edward Snowden comes to mind, when he blew the whistle on government surveillance of the public. As well, there are occupations where the host will be in the public eye, and therefore often subject to potential retribution from those who don't like any truths being broadcast about their practices.
Some of my favorite whistleblower movies are Serpico (1973), Three Days of the Condor (1975), All the President's Men (1976), Silkwood (1983), The Insider (1999), Erin Brockovich (2000), The Whistleblower (2010), Snowden (2016) and The Laundromat (2019). Your time will be well-spent taking the hours to watch any from this selection. And yes, the quality of these individuals and their bravery, about whom the real-life story is based, is what makes them memorable.
Admittedly, I don't fall in this prestigious category but allow me to re-state that I've no issue standing up for my rights, to fight tooth and nail, while there are still plenty of teeth in my mouth. I remind myself too, even if I don't readily share this with others that no one should underestimate my sharpened fingernails.
The literary roots of the expression 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' dates back to 1903, incidentally, in a story collection by Cal Stewart, wherein he featured a character named Uncle Josh Weathersby, who cited, "The wheel what squeaks the loudest is the one that gets the grease."
Wish I had coined the phrase, though I hadn't yet been born. 💘
Try it. Go on. I dare you. Try to think of one person you personally know who's spoken up, doing so at the risk of destroying their career, future prospects or personal safety. I'd be genuinely surprised if you could name one individual, whether it's at work, home or in school. Maybe the one person is you, in which case, bravo! I've never personally known anyone cut from this particular cloth, a thread so finely spun and rare as to be near impossible to find.
We are programmed from the time we're toddlers to obey, to take orders, not to talk back, as well as to observe the rules from those in positions of authority, even if we end up suffering, due to their decisions. Think of the concept of conscription, where old men in positions of power declared war on another country, typically over a territorial feud, though not always about shared resources, who'll then rationalize sending young men to do their bidding. Meanwhile, these old codgers, who are not so coincidentally fat-cats, will hide in the shadows, in their safety zone, knowing that young men will be cut down, to die in an attempt to fill someone else's agenda. Young women, too, those who've volunteered behind enemy lines as medical aids.
The best current example I can think of are the leaders of Hamas, neatly and safely tucked away in their five star hotels in Iran, while Gazans die by the thousands, all because of the intifadas planned and executed by Hamas leaders. I've watched the videos on Al Jazeera TV where Hamas leaders would proudly declare, "We don't care how many Palestinians are sacrificed, so long as we achieve our goal to kill every Jew on the planet." I think this pretty much sums up my point, about leaders in positions of power. Hamas are in full control of the Palestinian Parliament, and this majority representation isn't openly challenged by the media, who rarely feature stories about the control that Hamas are able to exert in Gaza. Keep in mind the Palestinian cause has received billions in international aid, yet it is Hamas who makes the decisions, spends the money on building tunnels, not on improving the living conditions of Gazans.
Adults who are expected to be independent-minded, must learn as their first rule to becoming an adult, to think for themselves, to not allow themselves to be drawn into the rabbit hole of corruption. But it's surely not an easy road to travel, the perilous choice of being a whistleblower. It's one of the hardest roles because it requires you to be fully informed, equipped with factual knowledge, rather than to parrot back the same propagandistic views of those in power. Know before you blow that whistle, what is relevant and what is not, and what can be applied logically to arrive at a valid assessment.
Speaking up, if you're not in a managerial or director role or higher, in a room where the non-elevated out number those in elevated roles, will immediately show you the truth of people, and their sheepish natures to remain quiet, to avoid reprisal. Those who have skin in the game, and when I use this expression I refer to an elevated position to consider... well they won't step up to support you, nor are they likely to voluntarily stick their neck on the line for you.
Is it human nature to remain hidden, rather than step out into the light to fight for your rights and those of others? I wager it is more often than not perfectly normal human nature to hide. Remaining quiet, however, will leave you with fewer options to rely on people in positions of authority. In truth, they'd rather that you keep your mouth shut, and go with the flow.
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm one of these so-called mouthy persons, who'll not sit quietly by and choose to say or do nothing, while my rights and freedoms are being trampled on by those in power. I've learned the hard way, which is in fact the best way. The individuals in power want to be able to use other people to their advantage, as well as to discard someone when they're no longer of use. Companies are often guilty of avoiding the difficult situations. By this comment, I'm thinking of those sticky decisions that may result in axing a senior employee whose behavior has come into question. They'd much rather pretend there is no issue, or to sweep it aside, and this can be accomplished by dialoguing with the wronged individual, to present them with the falsehood that their best interests are being properly represented. When in reality, however, their goal is to encourage you to drop the issue, and to put your head down, and carry on, as though nothing untoward had occurred.
I recall one incident when a Government employee in a position of authority was being pushed out, and there was an inkling this was to be the end result. When my advice was solicited, given that I, too, was working for the government at the time, I reminded them of their rights to protect themselves. I recommended that they record their HR exit-meeting. I was specific too in my advice, that so long as this person advised the other parties of the meeting who were about to be recorded, they were lawfully within their right to do so. The other party, too, doesn't have the right to insist on stopping the recording. Keep in mind there are generally two HR personnel present, to provide witness for each other, while the employee had just themselves. At this point, the employee may refuse the HR request to shut off the recording, because again it is their legal right, and then HR is only empowered to stop the meeting, and this is all. Instead, the HR personnel insisted on shutting off the recording, which left the employee up the creek, and no longer in possession of a recording of what had transpired.
Rules differ between Canada and the USA. So, know your constitutional rights. In the USA, you're legally permitted to record an HR meeting, providing you're the participant in question. However, the employer can decline to participate if they refuse to consent. In Canada, however, we have a One-Party Consent Law, (Criminal Code s. 183.1) which means you don't have to give advance notice of making a recording, although it's recommended to do so regardless to avoid any claims in Civil court of surreptitiousness.
I realize that being stealthy is all the rage, given the number of hugely popular spy-thriller TV series, and I'm a big lover of them too, though it may save you some heartache in the end by being upfront.
Also, and we see this more now in Canada, when it pertains to the care of elderly parents or grandparents, many private retirement homes are openly accepting the installation of camera surveillance in a senior's suite to avoid any potential abuse. Again, and however, there is a legal requirement to post a sign outside the door of the unit.
I've veered a little off topic! 🫣
I've held this view for decades that employers have no issue taking advantage of employees. In some twisted way, this is the nature of each business relationship. An employee sells themselves, and the services they bring to the employer who then agrees to pay for said services. However, here the employer may proceed to take advantage of their new employee by pulling them into work that was never agreed upon from the outset, which now they're expected to handle competently. This business practice is commonplace. An employee pushing back and whistleblowing on this company's practices isn't a common happening. Most employees will tolerate the unanticipated workload, until they land themselves into a better paying position.
There are progressive websites now. One better known is called Glass Door which allows anyone to create an account, and users are then permitted to post honest and anonymous feedback on the work environment. This is a modern form of whistleblowing, without worry of being reprimanded. It's beneficial for all potential new hires, to read the reviews of a company's work environment, before they consign over their hours and skills. Companies, after all, are in the business to make money, which is actually no different than employees. I've heard from some Executives who state that the HR department is one of the most influential and powerful departments in every company, along with the Finance team. And, if you stop to think about it, every new employee initiative originates from within HR, to impact hiring and firings, payouts, bonuses, vacation leave, and on, after which each new initiative must be approved by the Finance management team.
There's a lot at stake in our financially challenged economies. Employees are moving toward a multi-contract job situation, where they may have two or sometimes even three contract positions, that add up to one full-time job. These roles come with few perks or zero benefits, and therefore you're wise to expect less representation on your behalf to protect your livelihood. In these instances, employees are even less likely to blow the whistle on business practices that would fall under the radar, in terms of human rights.
The squeaky wheel, therefore, doesn't always get the grease, even when a part-time employee stands up to their employer to argue in favor of fair treatment, more so if rights are being trampled on by management. We're also seeing an increased bleed of rights, such as the right to privacy, an erosion originating from within large corporations whose mobile apps request access to our phones, and therefore potentially our private lives. And many companies have cameras installed at various points. All they're required to do is advise their staff, but because we're human, we're busy, we're self-absorbed with our personal issues, most forget about the cameras.
Always read the terms and conditions, and be mindful which apps are being downloaded to your phone. It's a good piece of advice. I've come to the conclusion that nothing about my life can be kept under lock and key. I can only do my best to protect my personal information like passwords and log-in credentials, and even these apparently are known to large companies and their browsers.
There are a number of occupations that historically are about secrecy, such as those technical wizards who develop software programs for intelligence agencies. I'm sure the name of Edward Snowden comes to mind, when he blew the whistle on government surveillance of the public. As well, there are occupations where the host will be in the public eye, and therefore often subject to potential retribution from those who don't like any truths being broadcast about their practices.
Some of my favorite whistleblower movies are Serpico (1973), Three Days of the Condor (1975), All the President's Men (1976), Silkwood (1983), The Insider (1999), Erin Brockovich (2000), The Whistleblower (2010), Snowden (2016) and The Laundromat (2019). Your time will be well-spent taking the hours to watch any from this selection. And yes, the quality of these individuals and their bravery, about whom the real-life story is based, is what makes them memorable.
Admittedly, I don't fall in this prestigious category but allow me to re-state that I've no issue standing up for my rights, to fight tooth and nail, while there are still plenty of teeth in my mouth. I remind myself too, even if I don't readily share this with others that no one should underestimate my sharpened fingernails.
The literary roots of the expression 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' dates back to 1903, incidentally, in a story collection by Cal Stewart, wherein he featured a character named Uncle Josh Weathersby, who cited, "The wheel what squeaks the loudest is the one that gets the grease."
Wish I had coined the phrase, though I hadn't yet been born. 💘
