No need to show good faith

Until 2013, whistleblowers were only protected if they made their protected disclosure in “good faith”. This requirement for good faith was removed by section 18 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.

As long as a worker reasonably believed that their disclosure was in the public interest, there will be protection even if they were also motivated by factors such as a desire for revenge or self-interest (for example, trying to save their own career). However, a tribunal can reduce any compensation by up to 25% if a disclosure was not made in good faith.

There will be no protection if the allegations and information disclosed were false and the whistleblower did not believe them to be true at the time of making them.