Employment | Seminars

When the whistle blows
Thursday 24th April 2008
at 10 Queen Street Place London, EC4R 1BE

Following a variety of public scandals, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 was introduced to provide protection for employees who wanted to expose corporate malpractice without fear of reprisal.  It was hoped that the employee protection would promote good corporate practice and encourage employees to blow the whistle on misconduct.  In relation to the second of these aims, the whistleblowing charity, Public Concern at Work, has reported that employees are now twice as likely to blow the whistle as they were before the Act came into force.  In addition, statistics published by Public Concern at Work show that applications to the Employment Tribunal in 2006/2007 in respect of whistleblowing had increased to over eight times the number submitted in 1999/2000.  This is not least in part because employees who allege dismissal as a result of blowing the whistle do not need to have minimum service requirements and damages are unlimited. 

With claims increasing year on year, employers need to know what to do when an employee blows the whistle and what protection the employee has.  The seminar will look at these issues as well as give practical guidance for employers.

Programme:

In this seminar we will consider:

• who is covered by whistleblowing legislation; 
• what disclosures are protected; 
• what protection is available for an employee if they blow the whistle; and the likely remedies; and interaction with other employment obligations, including data protection and the statutory grievance procedures.

Timetable:
08.15 Introduction
08.30 Workshop and Breakfast
09.20 Summing Up / Questions & Answers

About Us:
The Employment & Pensions Group advises on all employment and pensions law, covering contentious and non-contentious issues.  We run six workshop seminars a year covering topical issues directed at HR specialists, publish a monthly bulletin giving up-to-the-minute reports on new cases, legislation and advance warning of likely developments and also offer on-site bespoke training to clients.

We act for employers, senior executives, and pension scheme trustees.  Clients include large plcs, smaller companies, educational establishments, charities, partnerships and occupational pension schemes.

Training:
SJ Berwin is accredited as a provider of continuing professional development by the Law Society and other professional bodies. Attendance at each seminar qualifies as 1CPD hour, quoting reference 012/SJBE.

RSVP:
RSVP by email to martin.punt@sjberwin.com including in the message your name and organisation or alternatively by phoning direct on 020 7111 5453.  Colleagues are welcome to come in your place.

If you do not receive our Employment Update newsletter but would like to, please send your details to martin.punt@sjberwin.com.

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