Sarbox-style whistleblowing not a lot of fun

Well, it looks like another executive--this one at BMC software--is seeking Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower status. Michael Ciavarra alleged in a suit that he was fired from the Houston-based because he play along with what he calls a "scheme to improperly recognize as revenue a $67 million invoice that the customer had no intention of paying." Ciavarra, a top salesman and 18-year veteran of the firm, claims he alerted top BMC executives, including CEO Bob Beauchamp. No action was taken, and he was let go. He faces a long haul. Let's face, being a whistleblower, even in this era of heightened attention to wrong-doing, is hardly a party. The best example may be Cynthia Cooper, who along with some colleagues was name Time's person of the year for her role in blowing the lid of the WorldCom scam--even before there was a Sarbox. She stands by what she did, but it took an emotional toll. Some days, she could barely get out of bed. She remains a staunch supporter of Sarbox.

For more on Ciavarra:
- here's an article