Whistleblowers offered more protection in proposed law changes

Whistle-blowing employees could soon receive better protection against maltreatment in the workplace.

Employment minister Jo Swinson has today announced plans to amend the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill so that staff cannot be bullied, harassed or subjected to poorer working conditions as a result of exposing an employer’s wrongdoing.

The changes are likely to have a significant effect on all business owners, whether they chose to start a franchise or create their own a business model. According to hrmagazine.co.uk, one of the amendments will make an employer responsible for any maltreatment by one co-worker towards another after a whistle-blowing incident. Employers could soon have to prove they took all reasonable steps to prevent such an incident.

In an interview with guardian.co.uk, Swinson was keen to explain the importance of giving whistleblowers added protection.

She said: “The protection offered by whistleblowing legislation is strong but there are always ways to improve it. This amendment takes into account recent events and will place whistleblowers, who are making a difficult decision, in a better position.

“They will now have a specific employment protection in place and be able to have the full force of a tribunal behind them if they suffer any detriment, bullying or harassment from a co-worker.”

The news comes following demands from protesters for the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) to be scrapped and completely rewritten.