How does effective internal communication impact employees’ external whistleblowing intention? The mediating role of the relational psychological contract

Purpose As less is known about how internal communication can influence employees’ whistleblowing intention, this study aims to explore how participatory communication, organizational listening and organizational responsiveness influence employees’ external whistleblowing intention. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was conducted with 657 employees across various industries in the United States. Findings The results revealed that participatory communication, organizational listening and organizational responsiveness can fulfill the organization’s relational contract with their employees. As a communication-charged outcome, the fulfillment of employees’ relational psychological contract is associated with a lower intention to blow the whistle externally. Originality/value This study is among the first to examine internal communication strategies, namely, participatory communication, organizational listening and organizational responsiveness, as the antecedents of employees’ relational psychological contract and external whistleblowing intention.