Protect are proud to partner with law firm Howard Kennedy to further the careers of two trainee solicitors who will be supporting whistleblowers. Senior Protect Adviser and trainee solicitor, Hari Raithatha, joins the employment team at Howard Kennedy for three months to complete his training, whilst Protect welcomes Diarra Brown, a second-year Howard Kennedy trainee … Read more
The Whistleblowing International Network (WIN) brought together experts from across the world to share best practice at its first annual conference in Glasgow this September. Delegates, including Protect, heard some amazing case studies of how civil society groups can support whistleblowers and address very serious concerns. The Government Accountancy Project (GAP) in the US supported doctors raising … Read more
Our Head of Policy Andrew Pepper-Parsons recently attended a panel debate on Culture and Conduct in Financial Services – SMR, Working Practices and Emerging Cultural Concerns held by the Westminister Business Forum. Andy spoke about the challenge of embedding a better whistleblowing or speak up culture within the financial sector. He explained to delegates that … Read more
As recent law graduates kick-starting our legal careers at Protect , the first few weeks has certainly been an eye-opening experience – we have learnt a lot in our first month on the job! Although we had of course heard of whistleblowing, largely through shocking media news stories, within days of training on the Protect … Read more
In a bid to transform and improve the whistleblowing and speak up culture of charities, Protect is reaching out to offer its help and expertise in a pilot it hopes will transform the sector. In June, Protect partnered with the Charity Commission to launch a six-month advice line for whistleblowers working in the charity sector, … Read more
An interesting recent case at the Employment Tribunal (Bilsbrough v Berry Marketing Ltd) looked at victimising of a potential whistleblower. In this case, Mr Bilsbrough, a client service executive, had been researching how to blow the whistle to the Information Commissioner, and was suspended. A strict interpretation of the law might suggest he was not … Read more
New guidance by the Law Society on NDAs – Non-disclosure agreements – has recommended Protect as an advice centre for whistleblowers as ‘whistleblowing law is complicated’. NDAs, sometimes called a confidentiality clause, or gagging clause, allows the employer and worker to resolve a dispute confidentially without going to a tribunal or court. An individual may … Read more
THE City of London Corporation hosted a breakfast briefing on best practice speak up/listen up arrangements with presentations by Protect Chief Executive Francesca West and Banking Standards Board Senior Behavioural Scientist Kate Coombs. Opening the briefing, Catherine McGuinness, Chair of the Policy & Resources Committee at the City of London Corporation, said, ’Integrating positive speak up … Read more
Protect Head of Policy Andrew Pepper-Parsons said: “It is good news for whistleblowers that the Government are proposing a crackdown on NDAs with new legislation to prevent the cover up of workplace harassment, discrimination and assault. “Protect were invited to give evidence to both the Women & Equalities Select Committee and the Government’s consultation on … Read more
Protect Chief Executive Francesca West has responded to the Panorama programme on anti-Semitism in the Labour party and the use of NDAs to gag whistleblowers, which aired this week. The programme featured eight whistleblowers who spoke of feeling undermined by senior Labour bosses in their efforts to speak up and tackle anti-semitism. They claim there … Read more
