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NLJ this week: Suggestions to improve the law on whistleblowing

11 October 2024
Issue: 8089 / Categories: Legal News , Employment , Disclosure , Regulatory
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Better protection is needed for whistleblowers, writes Will Burrows, partner, Bloomsbury Square Employment Law, in this week’s NLJ

For example, could there be ‘a presumption that costs would be awarded against employers who dismiss whistleblowers or subject them to detriments’?

Burrows highlights the obstacles faced by those who speak out, who subsequently may lose their income while waiting years for a tribunal result.

Worryingly, he reveals: ‘I am aware of one major regulator that has admitted they will only act against an employer if a judge finds that the protected disclosure made was valid and that the whistleblower had been unlawfully treated.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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