What is whistleblowing?
‘Whistleblowing’ or ‘blowing the whistle’ is commonly understood as informing on someone who is doing something they shouldn’t. Under UK law, workers have special protections against detrimental treatment and dismissal when they make a qualifying disclosure of information. Whistle-blowing is… Read on
Whistleblowing protection narrowed by latest decision
A recent decision confirms that whistleblowing protection does not apply if a disclosure is made purely out of self-interest. Protection for whistleblowers Workers who disclose wrongdoing by their employer (or a third party) enjoy enhanced legal protection from detriment or… Read on
Personal liability for whistleblowing compensation
In International Petroleum Ltd v Osipov (click here for full judgment) , a non-executive director (retained on a non-employed basis to make decisions for the company) instructed another non-executive director to dismiss the Claimant, who had brought to the first… Read on
Whistleblowers – Meaning of ‘public interest’ clarified
The Court of Appeal in Chesterton Global Ltd v Nurmohamed confirms that a complaint by a worker about unlawful conduct committed by the employer which is mostly personally motivated may nevertheless have the protection of the whistleblowing legislation if the… Read on
Major NHS whistle blowing case
The Court of Appeal has recently heard a case which has attracted some notoriety, brought by Dr Beatt against the trust he used to work for, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. His brought a whistleblowing claim based on allegations he… Read on
Whistleblowing review published
Public Concern at Work (an independent authority on whistleblowing) has just published a review covering its work for the last 5 years. They have revealed some interesting statistics, but these relate to the period 2009-2013: out of the whistleblowing claims… Read on
Whistle blowing: no knowledge of disclosures
In this case, the Royal Mail’s decision maker in a performance-related dismissal was not aware that the performance issues had really been retaliation for a whistleblowing complaint. The dismissal was perfectly justified from the decision maker’s point of view, however.… Read on
Whistle blowing: new case on meaning of “public interest”
Whistle blowing claims can now only be brought if the disclosure being relied on was made in the public interest. This has given rise to much debate as to what the meaning of public interest is. We report on the… Read on
Was employer’s instruction not to contact Information Commissioner’s Office lawful?
In this case, the Employment Appeal Tribunal was asked to decide whether or not it was fair to dismiss an employee for failing to comply with an instruction not to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. Background This is the case… Read on
Whistleblowing: interest of 100 = “public interest”?
We report on the EAT’s first decision since the introduction of the new rule protecting whistleblowers only where their disclosure is made in the public interest? Background Mr Nurmohamed was employed by the estate agent Chestertons and worked in their… Read on