Submitted by: Submitted by cshiels94
Views: 208
Words: 577
Pages: 3
Category: Business and Industry
Date Submitted: 03/04/2014 05:53 AM
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:
*...