Non-financial misconduct focus
From 1 September 2026, employers in Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)-regulated firms will face clearer – and stricter – rules on non-financial misconduct (NFM). These rules will cover how regulated firms should respond to incidents such as bullying, harassment, and retaliation against whistleblowers, which until now have been handled inconsistently.
New FCA guidance- issued alongside the new rules-will apply to most staff across all authorised firms, not just those in front-line regulated roles. The focus will be on the impact and context of behaviour, including conduct linked to work events, professional relationships, or misuse of power. Managers will be expected to take an active role in preventing and addressing misconduct, and failing to do so could itself breach FCA rules.
Non-financial misconduct will also carry more weight in Fit and Proper tests for employees and senior personnel. In practice, employers should expect more complex and formal investigations, with less room to ignore or quietly manage issues; closer working relationships between HR, legal, and compliance teams when addressing NFM allegations; and greater overlap with whistleblowing processes, as more private disputes may become breaches of FCA regulations.
Provision 29: Responsibilities of the Board
From January 2026, Provision 29 of the UK Corporate Governance Code raises expectations around how organisations manage risk and internal controls. Boards will need to do more than just say the right frameworks are in place – they’ll be expected to actively monitor them throughout the year and clearly explain how effective they are, and how any weaknesses have been addressed. In practice, this means moving beyond box-ticking towards a more joined-up approach to risk, where controls are tested, issues are acted on, and responsibility is clear across the organisation. For employers, getting this right can strengthen decision-making, improve transparency, and give regulators, investors and staff greater confidence that risks are being properly managed.
Effective whistleblowing systems are key to managing risk, but does your Board know if your whistleblowing arrangements are working? Protect’s benchmark allows you to consider all aspects of your whistleblowing system, and our independent audit can give your Board confidence that you have a roadmap for improvement.
Whistleblowing standards
Last year, we ran a whistleblowing standards project with organisations from a single sector. Participants shared information with Protect on the types of concerns raised, reporting volumes, anonymity rates and other key data, which then analysed and benchmarked against other organisations from their sector. Each organisation received a confidential, anonymised report showing how their arrangements compared with others in the sector. We’ll be running this project again this year, and if you’re interested in discussing a similar exercise for your sector, we’d be happy to meet to explore. Get in touch.
Want whistleblowing support specific to your sector?
We’ve launched a new set of sector-specific whistleblowing pages to help employers better understand and manage whistleblowing concerns in their own industries. These pages can help you identify if you are in need of support. By breaking whistleblowing down by sector, we aim to make it easier for employers to build effective speak-up arrangements, handle disclosures confidently, and create workplaces where people feel safe to raise concerns early.
Is your workplace ready for new waves of employees?
As we move into 2026, understanding how different generations experience whistleblowing is more important than ever. Our Attitudes to Whistleblowing Report shows that people’s views on speaking up at work can vary widely depending on age, expectations and workplace culture. By better appreciating these differences, employers can build more welcoming, inclusive environments where everyone – whether just starting their career or with decades of experience – feels confident and supported to raise concerns.
Training
We’ve got more training lined up in 2026 to help organisations build stronger, fairer whistleblowing systems.
- First up on 5 March is our Whistleblowing Essentials session – a practical introduction to best practice for organisations.
- Then on 19 March, join our Financial Services Whistleblowers’ Champion Masterclass, designed for those working in or with regulated financial firms.
- Following that, on 30 April, we’re running Investigating a Whistleblowing Concern, focused on how to handle and investigate reports effectively and confidently.
All sessions are online and delivered by our expert team, bringing decades of whistleblowing experience straight to your screen.