Whistleblowing – Is Reform Required?

The law that sits behind the right to "Speak Up" has been around for over 25 years but has received significant publicity recently with various public scandals involving large corporates, the "Me Too" campaign and the use of confidentiality agreements. So, is the law good enough at protecting individuals if these issues are still giving cause for concern?

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) provides protection for those who speak up regarding some forms of wrongdoing. A disclosure is protected if the worker reasonably believes the disclosure of said information is in the public interest. Examples of protected disclosures include where workers have expressed their concerns regarding their employer's compliance with health and safety requirements, or where there has been a criminal offence (such as sexual harassment or money laundering).