Employees have a duty to report misconduct or malpractice at work. If the misconduct poses a risk to colleagues or customers, it may be in the public interest to “blow the whistle” and report the harm. Often, this could involve a fraudulent activity, a health and safety breach or criminal behaviour. For employees to be safeguarded by the law, the disclosure made will have to meet certain conditions, such as being in the public interest.
Whistleblowing in the workplace can be vital in preventing further damage, improving procedures and helping both public and private organisations learn from mistakes.