Protection for whistleblowers to increase

The Government has proposed a further amendment to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill to increase the protection for whistleblowers.

Currently a whistleblower is only protected if they suffer a detriment or dismissal from their employer. The amendment will give them additional protection should they be bullied or suffer harassment from their colleagues. Known as 'vicarious liability' the amendment mirrors the protection available under equality legislation.

The employer will be held liable for the acts of a co-worker towards the whistleblower unless the employer can show that they took all reasonable steps to prevent the treatment.

The BIS has this week published Blowing the whistle to a prescribed person: List of prescribed people and bodies which reminds people that if they have chosen to blow the whistle to someone other than their employer they must make the disclosure to the appropriate person or body.