An under-fire heritage quango threatened a whistleblower with disciplinary action, The Scotsman can reveal.
A staff member approached the Scottish government with concerns about “corruption” and “misuse of public funds” within Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
Civil servants referred the disclosure back to HES for investigation and internal documents show a probe was carried out by new CEO Stephen Uphill.
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Yet while whistleblowers are protected under law from disciplinary measures and retaliation, the HES response says the employee could have faced action had they not already left the company.
Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr has been campaigning for change at HES, where Scotland’s Auditor General found a litany of concerns about management conduct.
HE said: “I am dismayed and annoyed on behalf of the courageous whistleblowers who raised these concerns.
“Speaking up about your own workplace can take real courage.
“Those who raise concerns in the public interest should be listened to, thanked and protected.”
A report into Mr Uphill’s findings was written by board member Prof Ian Baxter.
It dismisses all claims made in the whistleblowing disclosure and reads: “It is noted that the individual making the disclosure is no longer an employee of HES and thus HES does not have the opportunity to find the allegations as frivolous or harassing under its disciplinary policy.”
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