Whistleblowing solicitors
What is Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is the more commonly known as “Speaking Up” or making a “disclosure” about information that the individual reasonably believes is in the public interest.
Common examples of whistleblowing disclosures are about health and safety concerns or sexual harassment in the workplace or criminal activity including fraud or the cover up of any of these activities. Workers who speak up about such wrongdoings are protected from being dismissed or suffering a detriment at work by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) and may be compensated by a tribunal for any losses they suffer including an award for injury to feelings as a result of the treatment they may have suffered.
How our Whistleblowing Solicitor can help
The protection offered by whistleblowing laws is not always straightforward. It is therefore important to understand how to make a disclosure whilst maintaining the protection of the law. To get it wrong can be catastrophic to careers and well-being. In many cases it is possible to make a disclosure anonymously, but where that may not secure the best possible outcome, we can advise on how best to deal with matters of confidentiality and safety, as well as advising on the risk of retaliation or victimisation by aggrieved parties, as well as evaluating on the merits of any claims.
What is critical is that the opportunity to Speak Up in a safe and protected environment is available to everyone.
Why choose our whistleblowing solicitors
Our lawyers have significant experience advising on all aspects of claims and the protections available. Having worked with both workers and employers we have good insight into how this law works from both sides which is critical when looking to protect an individual who needs to make or has made a disclosure. We have successfully brought claims against companies who have sought to discredit workers or have dismissed them for speaking up about wrongdoing within their organisations. We can advise you on:
- How to make a protected disclosure
- Reporting to regulators or other bodies
- Breaches of confidentiality and safety concerns
- Any potential claim and its merits
Contact Us
If you need any assistance with a potential claim or you want advice regarding a protected disclosure generally please get in contact our Employment lawyers.
“An exceptional balance of expertise and personality.”
Legal 500
FAQs Whistleblowing
Check your company whistleblowing or speak up policy to see what it says about disclosures and how to make one. If you have an anonymous hotline, consider using that to make your disclosure.
This depends on the nature of the claim but on average it could take 12-18 months for a tribunal hearing to be heard.
If you make a protected disclosure you are protected from being unfairly dismissed irrespective of your length of service with your employer. You are also protected from suffering a detriment (such as a loss of a bonus payment or promotion).
Yes you can. If your claim is successful you can be awarded compensation for any financial loss suffered as well as injury to feelings award for the manner in which you have been treated.
