Whistleblowing — the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA 98) gives workers legal protection if they raise issues of serious concern about their workplace, including safety concerns, with their employer. It provides protection against victimisation or dismissal in cases where workers “blow the whistle”. PIDA 98 sets out a series of “protected disclosures” for which a worker has protection. These are where:

• a criminal offence has been, or is likely to be, committed;

• there has been a failure to comply with a legal obligation;

• a miscarriage of justice has occurred, or is likely to occur;

• health and safety is endangered;

• the environment is, or is likely to be, endangered; or

• information on any of the above is being concealed.

A dismissal of any worker making a protected disclosure will automatically be unfair, regardless of the length of service, and they can take their case to an employment tribunal.