Whistleblowers back change in the law so employers can no longer ignore whistleblowing

A group of leading whistleblowers back our campaign for the Government to amend the Employment Rights Bill 2024 so that employers are under a legal duty to investigate whistleblowing concerns.

As whistleblowers they have all experienced their employers deciding to ignore the warnings they’ve communicated, and then retaliate against them as messengers. This was the response regardless of the fact the whistleblowers were raising such serious public interest issues including international bribery, grooming gangs, racism in cricket, the misleading of Parliament and the flouting of charity governance.

There is no legal obligation on employers to investigate whistleblowing concerns, there’s not even a requirement for organisations to have a whistleblowing policy. Evidence from our Advice Line shows that 40% of whistleblowers receiving advice say when they speak up, they are ignored and their concerns disappear into a blackhole.

This letter of support comes in the light of strong cross-party support from three former Ministers- Baroness Margaret Hodge, Michael Carmichael and Sir Robert Buckland. This Bill to boost workers’ rights is the first time in almost 30 years that a government has a genuine opportunity to protect whistleblowers, and we believe ministers must embrace it wholeheartedly.

Whistleblowers letter of support

We as the undersigned, support the whistleblowing charity Protect in its call for the Government to amend the Employment Rights Bill so that employers are required to investigate whistleblowing concerns.

Having all experienced whistleblowing first hand, identifying problems and putting a stop to wrongdoing on the frontline should be every organisation’s priority. From addressing patient safety to stamping out sexual harassment everyone in the workplace should feel confident that when they speak up, action will follow. However, far too often the only reaction is to shoot the messenger.

Our current law places no legal obligation on employers to investigate whistleblowing concerns. According to the UK’s leading whistleblowing charity, Protect, 40% of the callers to their whistleblowing advice line say that when they speak up, they are ignored; their concerns disappear into a blackhole.

Every government wants to focus on improving the future, rather than addressing the mistakes of the past. Whistleblowing has been the common thread linking the recent public inquiries into Infected Blood, the Grenfell Tower fire and the Post Office Scandal. But whistleblowing concerns fell on deaf ears in each of these cases.

Putting a stop to wrongdoing at the earliest opportunity can only be a positive move for employers, those working in organisations, and the wider public. This government is pledging to make a historic impact on employment rights– the opportunity to make a step change in how whistleblowing is addressed in the UK is now.

Azeem Rafiq – Racism in cricket whistleblower,
Michael Woodford – Olympus whistleblower,
Josie Stewart – FCDO whistleblower,
Professor Nigel MacLennan – British Psychological Society whistleblower,
Stephen Murdoch – Charity Sector whistleblower,
Ian Foxley – GPT Special Project Management whistleblower,
Linda Fairhall – NHS whistleblower,
Maggie Oliver – Greater Manchester Police whistleblower