This eLearning course provides comprehensive training on whistleblowing, covering the legal protections available to those who raise concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace, the regulatory requirements for firms to have effective whistleblowing arrangements, and the importance of fostering a culture where employees feel safe to speak up. Whistleblowing plays a vital role in exposing misconduct, protecting consumers, and maintaining the integrity of regulated professions.
The course begins by explaining what whistleblowing is and the legal framework that protects whistleblowers, primarily the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA), which amends the Employment Rights Act 1996. It covers the types of disclosures that qualify for protection, including disclosures about criminal offences, breaches of legal obligation, miscarriages of justice, dangers to health and safety, damage to the environment, and the deliberate concealment of any of these matters. The training explains the conditions that must be met for a disclosure to be protected, including the requirement that it be made in the public interest.
The training addresses the regulatory expectations around whistleblowing, including the FCA's rules requiring regulated firms to establish effective internal whistleblowing arrangements and to appoint a whistleblowers' champion. It covers the SRA's expectations for law firms and the obligations around protecting the confidentiality of whistleblowers. The course explains the different channels available for raising concerns, including internal reporting to a manager or the firm's compliance function, external reporting to the FCA or SRA, and public interest disclosures to prescribed persons or the media in appropriate circumstances.
The course also addresses the protections available to whistleblowers, including protection against dismissal, detriment, and victimisation, and the remedies available if these protections are breached. It emphasises the importance of a speak-up culture where employees feel confident that their concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon, and where they will not suffer retaliation for raising genuine concerns. Upon completion, learners will understand their rights and obligations around whistleblowing, know how to raise concerns appropriately, and appreciate the importance of protecting those who speak up.
