Whistleblowing

[Trickytimes1]

Hi, unfortunately I am going to have to raise an issue at work re dishonest and unethical work practices. I work in a regulated industry and have just sought guidance from my regulator regarding this. I have to raise it with the designated person in work but I know this is going to have a negative effect on my general day to day work now as my manager and above will know it is me.

Any advice, other than documenting everything, as to how to handle the fallout please? I’ve worked here a very long time but things have started to get tougher over the past few years. I suspect I need to leave but it’s a niche role I have with most employers only offering FT roles on a much lower salary than mine.

Many thanks for any help and assistance you can provide.

Contact Protect, the whistleblowing charity. I found them very helpful. Be absolutely prepared for negative employer reactions. If you look at any cases in the public domains, the usual playlist is to minimise, gaslight, slander and suspension and / or sacking.

Thank you - I am fully expecting a negative backlash so just need to get everything in place for when it does happen. I’ll have a look at Protect.

Keep a record of everything along with evidence.

Make sure that whatever you are disclosing is done in the right way to ensure the protection of whistleblowing legislation will apply to you. There are particular rules around what counts as a protected disclosure in order to have the protection. You need to be certain you tick all the boxes. Also, but not instead of, if your company has a WB policy, say you are making disclosures under that policy.

Also remain extremely polite and professional at all times. If you are worried there will be a backlash, make sure they can't say that any repercussions arent because of the whistlblowing but because of your general conduct. You really need to be super reasonable and professional.

Thank you - will definitely remain calm and 100% professional. No idea what will happen but my reporting won’t be well received at all.

Does your employer have an online platform for reporting concerns through a third party? If they are medium to large companies then they should have. Usually it should allow you to report concerns anonymously.

Are you a member of a union? If not, rapidly join one before formally whistleblowing.

I’m sorry to sound negative, but I have never ever seen it go well.

Get another job before you blow the whistle.
You will lose all friends/acquaintances when you do it.

Not a TU member unfortunately. I think I can report anonymously but there is a designated partner I can also contact. TBF I will be immediately identifiable regardless of which way I report it.

If you go to HR they should have a whistle blowing policy make sure you adhere to that, if you need further advice I will try and help

I am a whistleblower. I can confirm all the negative aspects.