Alex Allen Academics at Middlesex University have presented Helen Evans, former Global Head of Safeguarding at Oxfam, with their UK Whistleblower Award for 2018. In 2018, Helen blew the whistle on the systemic sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by Oxfam aid workers. Her revelations were one of the biggest charity scandals in recent years. While Helen worked … Read more
Following the Women and Equalities Committee report into sexual harassment in the workplace – which found the government, regulators and employers all failing to tackle the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace – Protect asks is the government taking enough action? The government have pledged to bring in a Code of practice on sexual … Read more
The Government has published legislation it describes as the ‘biggest package of workplace reforms for over 20 years’ – implementing 51 of the 53 recommendations of the Taylor review into UK modern economy workplaces. Whilst welcomed – Protect see a missed opportunity for workplace reforms for whistleblowers. The government review into working practices in the … Read more
In June 1994, in small village in Northern Ireland, six Catholic men were shot dead at point blank range by loyalists, as they watched the World Cup in their local pub. The main shooter was accompanied by two others, and although within 24 hours the local residents had a strong indication of whom the murderers … Read more
An OFGEM whistleblower – Greg Pytel – has been told that he is unable to challenge the victimising behaviour of his employer in the Employment Tribunal after he raised public interest concerns about the implementation of smart meters. He is now having to take his case to the Court of Appeal, at his own expense. … Read more
My view on whistleblowing is that it is a worldwide problem, and in a commissioned Protect report, ( ‘Report on the effectiveness of existing arrangements for workplace whistleblowing in the UK’) gives recommendations about how whistleblowers should be treated. Whistleblowing plays a vital role in the achievement of good governance in sport as in every … Read more
Protect is calling on clearer legislation surrounding NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) it says is preventing whistleblowers from speaking out over gagging fears and threats of legal costs. Protect (formerly Public Concern at Work) is calling for clearer wording for 43J of the whistleblowing law, the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA). It wants all NDAs, or settlements, … Read more
It was great to see so many of our supporters – stakeholders, organisations we work with, parliamentarians, legal friends, former staff, trustees, and of course, whistleblowers – at our 25th anniversary reception at the House of Commons, kindly hosted by Lord Shinkwin. Lord Shinkwin shared with the room his own moving experience of whistleblowing whilst … Read more
Since whistleblowing legislation was introduced under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, employees have been encouraged to come forward with disclosures of dangerous or criminal behaviour, without fear of reprisal or dismissal. Arguably the need to speak out against such activity is especially pertinent to the education sector, which deals with young and vulnerable people … Read more
The recently formed All-Party Parliamentary Group on Whistleblowing (APPG on Whistleblowing), a group of peers and MPs who through research and debate are campaigning for better protection for whistleblowers. The APPG on Whistleblowing, initiated by WBUK, have launched a survey to collect the experiences of whistleblowers from as many different sectors and industries as possible. … Read more
