Whistleblowing: government-backed research questions effectiveness of current whistleblowing framework and suggests changes

The Department for Business and Trade has recently published an independent Review of the whistleblowing framework in Great Britain. This report follows extensive research, commissioned by the previous government and conducted by Grant Thornton UK LLP, into the effectiveness of the whistleblowing framework in Great Britain.

The report outlines various changes the government should consider and aims to inform future government policy and reform of the whistleblowing framework.

Key research findings

In summary, the report’s key findings include:

• Definitions are important and should be reformed:
  • the key legal definitions ‘reasonable belief’, ‘worker’, ‘public interest’, ‘whistleblower’ and ‘protection’ are important determiners of the effectiveness of the whistleblowing framework, but they are often seen as subjective, vague, inconsistent and narrow and may require reform; and
  • some organisations voluntarily adopt a wider definition of whistleblowing than that provided for in legislation, but this can cause confusion and misconceptions as to whether the individual whistleblower has legal protection.
• Internal disclosure routes/organisational response:
  • organisational capabilities and capacity can act as a barrier to internal disclosure;
  • organisations can respond effectively to concerns raised, depending on their resources or appetite to do so;
  • ...

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