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
A backbench debate led by MP Norman Lamb took place in the House of Commons (3 July 2019) to discuss whistleblowing, the current legal landscape and the urgent need for reform of the current whistleblowing legislation. Protect attended with Dr Chris Day, the NHS whistleblower whose case was heralded by MPs in the debate as an illustration of the … Read more
Protect has briefed Norman Lamb MP on why whistleblowing legislation, the Public Interest Disclosure Act needs reforming. We will write a summary of the debate, or watch it live from 3-5pm today, July 3 on Parliament TV Read our brief here: Parliamentary Briefing for Backbench Whistleblowing Debate July 2019
With so many corporate scandals making headline news on a daily basis, can you be sure your company has a healthy speak up culture? Are you confident your staff are comfortable to speak up about a wrongdoing they have witnessed at work? With new guidelines introduced by the UK Corporate Governance Code which explicitly states … Read more
