Company whistleblowers reporting corruption and malpractice at work are now legally protected, thanks to new legislation which came into force last week. The new Public Interest Disclosure Act aims to protect workers who raise issues of wrong-doing with their employers, trade unions or other organisations.
Nearly all workers will be covered by the new legislation, which also allows for limitless compensation for employees who are found to have been unfairly dismissed by an industrial tribunal.
The main aim is to ensure that senior managers will not be deterred from bringing issues such as internal fraud to the attention of their company, while also encouraging employers to create a more open work culture where concerns can be raised and dealt with internally at an early stage.
The Department of Trade and Industry says the new law has been widely welcomed by both employer and employee organisations.
The UK's biggest union, Unison, has opened a special hotline for whistleblowers to encourage employees to speak out without fear. Unison's General Secretary, Rodney Bickerstaffe, said: "The new rights enshrined in this legislation should ensure that no worker will ever again suffer injustice for blowing the whistle on wrongdoing.
"The welcome protection paves the way for a new climate of openness and partnership at work, creating a culture where staff are seen as a safety net rather than scapegoats."
Gary Cutlack
