News

The House of Lords has voted to introduce a new duty to investigate whistleblowing concerns placing an obligation on employers to act when whistleblowers speak up. This would mean organisations with more than 50 staff, or a turnover of more than £10 million, will have to investigate the whistleblowing concerns that are brought to them.

New research by the UK’s whistleblowing charity Protect shows that Gen-Z (those aged 18–24-year-olds) are less likely to blow the whistle to their employer compared to older generations. Across every area of potential wrongdoing – from health and safety to fraud and bullying – Gen Z were less likely to raise a concern with their employer compared to every other generation. 

Protect welcomes this comprehensive review of workplace culture at the BBC and the proposed actions to improve whistleblowing systems. As an industry that relies on freelancers and short-term contracts protections are needed to ensure everyone feels safe and respected at work. Its concerning this review reveals that junior employees, freelancers and those on short-term contracts are much less likely to speak up than permanent BBC staff due to their precarious employment status.

The Court of Appeal has determined that job applicants do not have the protection of whistleblowing law. Protect intervened as a third party in the case of Sullivan v Isle of Wight Council to argue that whistleblowing protection should be available to all external job applicants.

Protect welcomes the publication of the new report from the Committee on Public Standards in Public Life “Recognising and responding to early warning signs in public sector bodies” and calls for the introduction of a statutory duty on employers to investigate whistleblower concerns to give workers the confidence they will be listened to when they speak up.

In 2024, Protect significantly impacted the lives of thousands of whistleblowers by providing practical and legal advice on how to safely and effectively raise workplace concerns. The UK’s leading whistleblowing charity worked on 3,336 total cases, a rise of 10% on 2023.

A case at the Court of Appeal is considering whether all external job applicants should have whistleblowing legal protection. Protect has filed a third-party intervention at the Court of Appeal to widen whistleblowing protection to all external job applicants. The charity was given permission to intervene because the case gives rise to important issues of public policy.

Responding to the judgment in the case of Josie Stewart, former FCDO whistleblower, Protect welcomes the ruling which has far reaching implications for the civil service. However, we still need to close the gap between the value whistleblowing brings in exposing wrongdoing, and the lack of protections for those civil servants who speak up.

New research reveals the financial impact to the taxpayer of failing to listen to whistleblowers. The Post Office Horizon scandal, the Countess of Chester/ Lucy Letby scandal and the collapse of the construction firm Carillion alone have so far cost the taxpayer 426 million pounds. 

Action by the whistleblowing charity Protect has helped retain the ability for whistleblowers to get compensation for their non-financial losses. In the Employment Appeal Tribunal between Declan Durey and South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust there was a risk that the established “injury to feelings”* award for whistleblowers could have been dismantled.

In a landmark decision handed down today (Oct 21 2024) by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT), the door has been opened for UK charity trustees to receive protection from adverse treatment for making whistleblowing disclosures to a charity or to another relevant party.  Until now, protection had not been available, due to the particular circumstances in which trustees work, often unpaid and without a contract.

Responding to the publication of the government’s Employment Rights Bill, Protect welcomes this long overdue strengthening of workers’ rights, but sees this Bill as another missed opportunity to improve whistleblowing law.

Protect has joined more than 25 leading whistleblowing and free expression organistions in calling for one of Europe’s largest fishing companies to drop its punitive legal action against an Icelandic visual artist. The artist, who goes by the name ODEE, has created a series of works drawing attention to alleged corruption committed by the Icelandic firm Samherji. The case centres on practices to secure fishing quotas in Namibia that were revealed in 2019 by the whistleblower, Jóhannes Stefansson, and is known as the #Fishrot Scandal.

A type of compensation claim that has been enshrined in law for more than 20 years is under threat at a hearing taking place this week. In the Employment Appeal Tribunal between Declan Durey and South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust there is a risk that the established “Injury to Feelings” award for whistleblowers could be dismantled. Protect has been given permission to intervene in the case as it gives rise to important issues of public policy.

Reacting to the publication of the final report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry today, Andrew Pepper-Parsons, the Director of Policy at whistleblowing charity Protect said: “We welcome the report’s recommendations for stronger regulation – but we must ensure that when people speak up to share critical concerns they are listened to and there is a duty on those in leadership positions to address the issues they raise.”

Former Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) whistleblower, Josie Stewart has joined the whistleblowing charity Protect’s Advisory Council. With her expertise and commitment to exposing wrongdoing, Stewart is set to contribute significantly to the organisation’s mission of protecting whistleblowers and promoting transparency.

Protect, the UK’s whistleblowing charity, is intervening in an important case before the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) which will consider whether charity trustees should have whistleblowing rights. There are nearly a million charity trustees in the UK. They are responsible for the proper governance of charities and have a duty to report wrongdoing when they see it. The case before the EAT will consider whether trustees can claim the protection of whistleblowing law if they suffer as a result of speaking up about wrongdoing.

Reacting to the Kings Speech today, Elizabeth Gardiner, Chief Executive of whistleblowing charity Protect said: “We welcome the introduction of a new #EmploymentRights bill, this is an opportunity for the government to fulfil its commitment to improve whistleblowers’ rights. Too many people in today’s workplace don’t have any protection if they speak up to stop harm.”

The former Veterans’ Minister Johnny Mercer has had his application to withhold the names of whistleblowers rejected by a public inquiry. Mr Mercer, the former Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View, has repeatedly refused to name “multiple officers” who told him about alleged special forces murders in Afghanistan.

The whistleblowing charity, Protect, is proud to have supported the BBC Casualty production team in understanding the practicalities of whistleblowing law for the drama’s most recent storyline “Breaking Point”. The multi-episode storyline features a controversial documentary exposé including secretly leaked recorded footage and an internal witch hunt for the whistleblower responsible.

The Veterans’ Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer has confirmed he is challenging an order to name the source of his claims about alleged war crimes by British special forces in Afghanistan. He could face jail or a fine. At Protect we believe it is paramount that the identity of these whistleblowers are protected.

The findings of the Sexism in the City report come as no surprise. We hear everyday from whistleblowers reporting sexual and non-financial misconduct in the workplace whose employers are failing to address their concerns.

The whistleblowing charity Protect has been recognised as an accredited CPD (Continued Professional Development) provider for four of its instructor led training courses. With this quality of stamp of approval delegates to Protect’s training courses can attend training confident that they can develop and demonstrate their professional development enhancing their understanding and knowledge to help them make better decisions when receiving whistleblowing concerns.

In 2023, Protect significantly impacted the lives of thousands of whistleblowers by providing practical and legal advice on how to safely and effectively raise workplace concerns. The UK’s leading whistleblowing charity worked on 3047 total cases, a rise of 23% on 2022.

This is another damaging example of whistleblower concerns going unheard with devastating consequences. An effective speak up culture is essential for all organisations to catch problems before they escalate. This is all the more important in health settings where patient safety is at stake. But even more pressing is making sure there is an active listening culture to pick up concerns and ensure whistleblowers are recognised.

We welcome this National Audit Office report into whistleblowing in the civil service. The report notes that whistleblowers are key to good government and challenge is critical to holding organisations to account. Recent scandals, including Greensill and Partygate, showed that people inside government knew about wrongdoing but may have been afraid to come forward.

Your monthly whistleblowing news update. This month: McDonald’s faces up to two sex abuse claims a week, employment tribunal rules on parliamentary privilege challenge in foreign office whistle-blowing case and following Lucy Letby, 71% of doctors say whistleblowing damages careers.

Josie Stewart, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) whistleblower, who is bringing a claim that she was unfairly dismissed because she blew the whistle can’t rely on parts of her evidence because of Parliamentary Privilege.

As a member of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition we have been closely following the progress of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECB2) through Parliament. Now passed into law this is the first anti-SLAPP provision in UK law. While this is definitely a step in the right direction, there’s still much more that could and … Read more

Protect’s Environmental Whistleblowing Toolkit  New research by Protect shows that concerns about being fired or victimised at work are preventing people from calling out their employers on the climate crisis and the wider environment. (The Guardian) + Our new toolkit launched at the beginning of October, providing practical help for people considering blowing the whistle on … Read more

Whistleblowing charity Protect supports Labour’s proposed clarification to whistleblowing protection Elizabeth Gardiner, CEO of Protect, the UK’s whistleblowing charity said:  Protect would welcome clarification of the law.  We know, from talking to whistleblowers every day, that it is difficult for anyone to be certain whether they have the protection of whistleblowing law when it comes … Read more

Fear of reprisals and victimisation hold workers back from reporting damage to the environment.   Workers say they’d hold back from raising issues about environmental damage because of fear of reprisals, concerns about providing proof and worries their concern wouldn’t be dealt with properly.  Only a third (36%) of workers believe they can raise environmental … Read more

Lucy Letby Whistleblowing stops harm – but only when whistleblowers are heard. Could deaths have been avoided if concerns raised about Lucy Letby had been acted on sooner? This week Andrew Pepper-Parsons, Director of Policy at Protect, and Elizabeth Gardiner, CEO Protect, appeared on both Sky News and TalkTv. + Hospital bosses ignored months of … Read more

Protect’s Lucy Letby Statement:  Time to review how whistleblowing is dealt with in the NHS  Our thoughts are with the families whose lives have been torn apart by the despicable crimes of Lucy Letby. We welcome the Government’s inquiry so that improvements can be made to the system, including how concerns are raised and addressed. … Read more

The fight against gagging clauses   Abusing NDAs to silence whistleblowers benefits no one. The fight to reform the use of gagging clauses continues. (Campaign Live)   Whistleblower consequences  Yet again, we are faced with another story of whistleblowers being ignored. It is crucial to protect those who bravely speak up in order to create an … Read more

Reflecting on whistleblowing Sinead Farrelly: Whistleblowing, car accidents & a World Cup with a broken hand – BBC Sport Whistleblowing is rarely easy – Sinead Farrelly reflects on her experiences and life after speaking out.  BBC backlash  Huw Edwards was secretly investigated by BBC colleagues before scandal erupted (telegraph.co.uk) Huw Edward’s wife speaks up and … Read more

Whistleblower rewards  Whistleblower receives large compensation following detrimental effects of whistleblowing: bullying, harassment and intimidation. Hopefully a lesson learnt by Royal Mail to address whistleblowing concerns and support whistleblowers from the start.  (Personnel Today) NHS in need of change  NHS culture hitting a new low as senior members come forward expressing deep worries for the … Read more

New research from the UK’s whistleblowing charity Protect shows too many whistleblowers working in schools are ignored and victimised for raising public interest concerns.  Schools should have a whistleblowing champion on the school board, training should be provided to all managers on how to properly listen and act on concerns.  Ofsted should be made a prescribed person … Read more

Elevate Your Expertise in Whistleblowing: Join the Upcoming Whistleblowing Training Summer School In the month of July, Protect is excited to announce our Whistleblowing Training Summer School, where you can unlock safe whistleblowing practices and become an invaluable asset in creating a robust speak-up culture. Are you passionate about or involved with fostering a culture … Read more

Celebrating 30 years of supporting whistleblowers   In 2022 Protect advised almost 2,500 individuals and supported around 220 employers with their whistleblowing arrangements   Thursday 6th June 2023  The UK’s whistleblowing charity, Protect, celebrates its thirtieth anniversary in 2023 and today publishes its impact report and annual report for 2022. Launching its report, the charity highlights:  Protect … Read more