What Is Whistleblowing

What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is when a worker reports suspected wrongdoing at work. Officially this is called ‘making a disclosure in the public interest’.

A worker can report things that aren’t right, are illegal or if anyone at work is neglecting their duties, including:

* someone’s health and safety is in danger

* damage to the environment

* a criminal offence

* the company isn’t obeying the law (like not having the right insurance)

* covering up wrongdoing

How to blow the whistle;

The way a worker can ‘blow the whistle’ on wrongdoing depends on whether they feel they can tell their employer.

1. The worker should check their employment contract or ask human resources/personnel if their company has a whistleblowing procedure.

2. If they feel they can, they should contact their employer about the issue they want to report

3. If they can’t tell their employer, they should contact a prescribed person or body.

A worker can only tell the prescribed person or body if they think their employer:

* will cover it up

* would treat them unfairly if they complained

* hasn’t sorted it out and they’ve already told them

Example

Laura knows the director of her bank is stealing clients’ money - she reports it to the Financial Conduct Authority, not her employer.

Dismissals of whistleblowing

3. Dismissals and whistleblowing

A worker can’t be dismissed because of whistleblowing. If they are, they can claim unfair dismissal - they’ll be protected by law as long as certain criteria are met.

Types of whistleblowing eligible for protection

These are called ‘qualifying disclosures’. They include when someone reports:

* that someone’s health and safety is in danger

* damage to the environment

* a criminal offence

* that the company isn’t obeying the law (like not having the right insurance)

* that someone’s covering up wrongdoing

Who is protected

The following people are protected:

*...