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Whistle Blowing

Any employee who chooses to make a public disclosure about the practices of a fellow employee in the workplace, otherwise known as “whistleblowing”, is protected by the Law. If a whistleblower is dismissed by their employer as a result of the whistleblowing, they may have a claim for unfair dismissal. To speak with our expert Employment Law Solicitors, call Hodgkinsons on 01754 897150 or submit a contact form and a member of the Team will contact you.

It can be said that a whistleblower who makes a protected disclosure regarding another employee’s practices does so only in the best interest of the company and its employees, but sometimes the path of a whistleblower can be fraught with difficulty. Unfortunately, whistleblowers are often branded as ‘troublesome’ employees when in fact, it is only their aim to protect public interest and stop bad activities from happening within the workplace. There are many reasons why an employee may make a disclosure, such as:

  • They believe that someone has committed a criminal offence such as fraud;
  • They believe that there has been a breach of Health and Safety;
  • They believe that someone has caused risk or actual damage to the environment;
  • They believe that there has been a miscarriage of justice;
  • They believe that the individual or company has broke the Law;
  • They believe that someone has covered up wrongdoing.

Any wrongdoings disclosed must be in the pubic interest, personal grievances such as discrimination, bullying or harassment, unless in the public interest, are not covered by whistleblowing law. If you have a claim regarding matters such as this, our Employment Law Team can assist you through an alternative procedure to make an employment claim.

How we can help

It should naturally be in the employer’s best interests to ensure that no detrimental treatment is given to individuals who make a disclosure. It is against the law to dismiss an employee just because they blew the whistle. If an employee is dismissed for doing so, this is automatically deemed as unfair dismissal. It is important that employers have the necessary policies and procedures in place to ensure that employees know the company’s whistleblowing policies. At Hodgkinsons Solicitors we can help employers to put the right documents in place by providing expert legal advice regarding an employer’s obligations surrounding the issue of whistleblowing.

If you have been treated unfairly because you have blown the whistle, you can take your case to an employment tribunal. If you wish to make a claim for unfair dismissal you must do so within three months of your employment ending. At Hodgkinsons we believe that blowing the whistle should not adversely affect your career, which is why we will be on hand to provide you with the expert legal advice you need to protect your best interests. It is important that whistleblowers report information in the correct way to avoid causing potential damage to their own career. Depending on your field of work, our Solicitors can advise you on the best course of action to take. If you have already blown the whistle, our Team can help you to negotiate a settlement agreement with your employer or help you to make a claim for unfair dismissal, depending upon the outcome. 

Why choose our Employment Solicitors?

Here at Hodgkinsons Solicitors, Skegness, we have a Team of Employment Law Solicitors who have many years of experience in the field of Employment Law, and in particular, Whistleblowing Claims. Our Solicitors have the ability to act on behalf of both claimants and respondents. The Team have exceptional knowledge of the Employment Law Tribunal process and can guide you through the procedure, providing expert legal advice at all times. Our Employment Team often represent a wide variety of individuals, from both large and independent companies. If you are considering disclosing information about a fellow colleague, or you have already done so, we recommend that you seek legal advice to distinguish your rights. We always understand that legal costs can be of a considerable concern to anyone seeking legal advice which is why we will always be transparent and informative regarding our fees. Hodgkinsons Solicitors can assist Clients with Whistleblowing Claims nationwide, throughout the East Midlands, rural Lincolnshire and the surrounding areas of Skegness including Boston, Lincoln, Grimsby and Louth. To get in touch call Hodgkinsons Solicitors Employment Law Specialists on 01754 897150 or submit a contact form and a member of the Team will be in touch.