The government has published the findings of a research study into the effectiveness of the whistleblowing framework. The report evaluates how well the UK whistleblowing framework meets the original objectives of the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA):
The research presents observations, emerging themes, and suggested areas for improvement, based on literature, interviews, focus groups, and secondary data analysis.
Key Findings
Definitions for terms like “worker,” “reasonable belief,” and “public interest” are viewed as vague, subjective, and inconsistently applied. There is no statutory definition of “whistleblower” or “protection,” meaning tribunals and organisations must interpret eligibility and safeguarding on a case-by-case basis.
Though some organisations have internal mechanisms, many lack accessible, trusted, or confidential processes for whistleblowing. Management buy-in and independence are inconsistent.
Tribunal proceedings frequently fall short. Many participants felt the process is unbalanced or unrealistic, and tribunals may not deliver fair or adequate compensation.
Banking stocks across the globe sold off on Friday, as fears about bad U.S. loans spilled over into equity markets beyond the United States. U.S. stock markets were rattled on Thursday amid mounti...