Whistleblowing policy

Introduction

1.1 All of us at one time or another have concerns about what is happening at work. Usually these are easily and informally resolved. However, when they are about unlawful conduct, financial malpractice or dangers to the public or the environment, it can be difficult to know what to do.

1.2 You may be worried about raising such a concern and may think it best to keep it to yourself, perhaps feeling it’s none of your business or that it’s only a suspicion. You may feel that raising the matter would be disloyal to colleagues, managers or to the organisation. You may decide to say something but find that you have spoken to the wrong person or raised the issue in the wrong way and are not sure what to do next. This policy deals with how to raise such a concern either internally or externally. The details can be found at Paragraphs 5 and 7 of this policy.

1.3 Whistleblowing is when a worker reports suspected wrongdoing at work. Officially this is called ‘making a disclosure in the public interest’.