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A small step forward, but will the Lords leap on whistleblowing reform?

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The government’s landmark Employment Rights Bill has now bounced from the Commons to the Lords as it continues its progress through Parliament. After a highly scrutinised passage through the Commons that led to more than 200 pages of amendments tabled at the Report Stage and Third Reading the Bill will be debated in the Lords for the first time on Thursday 27 March. This Bill provides a critical opportunity to improve whistleblowing protections for everyone in the workplace and revamp the way employers address and manage whistleblowing.  

From toxic work culture to an entire toxic town

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Every scandal comes to light, in the wake of ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office, whistleblowing scandals are now taking centre stage on TV with New Netflix series ‘Toxic Town’, starring Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education and The White Lotus), and Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker. The show has been labelled the UK’s Erin Brockovich, as a group of women take on their local council and the local steelworks following a pattern of birth defects in young children that whistleblowers were able to prove could have been avoided. 

What the Employment Rights Bill means for whistleblowing

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The government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill, rapidly moving throught the stages of Parliament, offers an opportunity to overhaul how employers and colleagues treat both whistleblowers and the how people raise concerns. We’re very pleased to see a great focus on tackling sexual harassment in the workplace, and extensions of time limits for bringing an employment tribunal claim. But as welcome as these changes are, they are not ambitious enough to strengthen whistleblowing protections which the Government committed to during the 2024 election.

Top Ten Things Charities get Wrong in Whistleblowing

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Like any organisation, charities face issues such as fraud, culture, safeguarding, and other risks. But operating under unique challenges, including resource constraints, funding shortfalls, and staffing shortages can significantly impact the ability to respond effectively. Do you have the right measures in place to handle concerns correctly?

What is the cost to the taxpayer when whistleblowers are ignored

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It is well documented that when whistleblowers are not listened to organisations can collapse, livelihoods can be lost, and people can lose their lives. There’s lots of research examining the treatment of whistleblowers when they try to speak up and what employers should do to be better. But what about the bigger cost to society – and in financial terms – the cost to all of us, the taxpayers, when things go wrong and the government has to step in and pick up the pieces?

Protection and rewards need to go hand in hand

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RUSI launches its new paper looking at the benefits of introducing rewards for whistleblowers in the fight against economic crime.  Protect was established to encourage public interest concerns to be raised, investigated and addressed – including issues of bribery, corruption and fraud.  For most of those who call our Advice Line, there is no question of rewards, nor does the concept make sense except in circumstances where substantial fines are levied against wrongdoers and collected by enforcement bodies.  

Artist’s Case Brings Fresh Attention to #Fishrot Scandal

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The Icelandic artist ODEE (Oddur Eysteinn Friðriksson), has put normal life on hold while he awaits the outcome of a lawsuit against him by one of the largest fishing companies in Europe, the Icelandic-based Samherji. The case relates to his artwork which draws attention to what’s known as the #Fishrot scandal, originally brought to light by whistleblower Jóhannes Stefansson. More than 30 publications/media platforms have now covered the story discussing the consequences of artists using their right to freely express themselves and explore social and political issues.

Fair Work Agency – how whistleblowing can help deliver a fairer workplace.

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They say things come in threes, and if Labour’s proposals to Make Work Pay go ahead as planned they’ll be merging three critical employment agencies together to create the Fair Work Agency. The new Government says the new agency will have ‘teeth’ to issue fines when employers breach employment issues like failing to pay holiday pay or not paying the entitled minimum wage, which according to Citizens Advice could impact close to 2 million people. And its whistleblowing that could make all the difference.

Exposing the truth: Mental health consequences of whistleblowing

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Whistleblower Debbie shares her experiences of mental health and speaking up: the night before I decided to blow the whistle, the anxiety I felt led to me not sleeping a wink. I knew the next day, I’d be pointing the finger at a colleague, essentially calling her a liar. I had undeniable proof, but even more than that, I knew that if I didn’t act, the life of my elderly, vulnerable client would be irreparably changed.