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.
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?
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.
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.
A controversial documentary exposé, a staff member sharing secretly recorded footage, a witch hunt for the source of a leak, mis-directed disciplinary action and mis-identified whistleblowers. BBC Casualty’s Breaking Point storyline had it all, and Protect was there hand-in-hand with the script writers through the production process making sure their plots and ideas were realistic, while maintaining the power of drama.
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.
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.
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.
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
