Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Whistleblowing definition

What does Whistleblowing mean? In practice, whistleblowing describes a worker raising concerns about suspected workplace wrongdoing by disclosing information in the public interest, usually to their employer, a prescribed regulator or (in limited circumstances) more widely. Across England & Wales and Scotland, “whistleblowing” commonly refers to making a “protected disclosure” under the Employment Rights Act 1996, ss.43A–43L (inserted by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998). Northern Ireland has near‑equivalent provisions. A qualifying disclosure must be a disclosure of information (not mere allegation) which the worker reasonably believes tends to show specified wrongdoing (such as a criminal offence, breach of legal obligation, miscarriage of...

Whistleblowing claims: defences, exclusions and limits on protection, including belief, public interest, personal gain, reasonableness, prescribed persons, and vicarious liability for co-worker or agent detriment

Published by a LexisNexis Employment expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note explores the defences and exceptions available in relation to a whistleblowing claim, and how these might be relied upon in practice. It also summarises the key principles that govern such claims...

Those wholly or partly excluded from bringing a claim

Although the scope of the whistleblowing regime is very wide, some categories of people are either partially or entirely prevented from pursuing a claim under it at all. For more detail, see Practice Note: Entitlement to claim whistleblowing—Excluded persons...

Lack of reasonable belief in wrongdoing

To count as a qualifying disclosure, the worker must hold a reasonable belief that their allegation indicates one or more of the specified forms of wrongdoing has taken place or is occurring. A disclosure will not qualify if, assessed against the information the worker possessed at the point the decision to disclose was taken, it was not reasonable for them to believe it tended to evidence the relevant wrongdoing. For additional guidance on this requirement, see Practice Note: Whistleblowing—protected disclosures—Necessary belief in the relevant wrongdoing...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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