Whistleblowing: Law and Practice

This book provides a detailed survey of the law relating to public interest disclosure. It examines how the new system has developed since the coming into force of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA), and provides up-to-date practical guidance on the key issues that arise in practice. Analysing the legal framework in the area, both under PIDA and the disparate sources of law that can apply, it provides in-depth commentary on case law and legislative developments. It examines the structure of PIDA, litigation procedure and remedies under the Act, data protection, confidentiality, copyright, defamation issues, and the Human Rights Act 1998, as well as the contractual and fiduciary duties of employees, statutory obligations (both regulatory and criminal), and the Corporate Governance Codes.Since the publication of the first edition, there have been substantial developments in the area, including those regarding whether a disclosure tends to show a Public Interest Disclosure, the burden of proof, remedies, and alternative dispute resolution. This new edition also covers the employment tribunals' new powers to pass PIDA claims to the appropriate regulator, where the claimant consents, and provides extensive coverage of a number of important decisions emerging from the Court of Appeal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal, including Babula v Waltham Forest College, Ezsias v North Glamorgan NHS Trust and Fecitt and others v NHS Manchester.Written by an author team with extensive experience in the area, and making use of checklists and worked examples, the book is an essential reference work for employment practitioners dealing with cases involving public interest disclosure issues. It will also be of interest to private and public sector employers seeking guidance on whistleblowing procedures and policies.

Table of Contents:
1: Introduction PART I: PROTECTING WHISTLEBLOWERS - THE PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURE ACT 1998 2: Structure of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 3: Protectable Information 4: Good Faith 5: The Three Tiers of Protection 6: Who is Protected under PIDA? 7: The Right not to Suffer Detriment 8: Dismissal for Making a Protected Disclosure 9: Remedies in Dismissal and Detriment Claims 10: Employment Tribunals' Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution PART II: PROTECTING WHISTLEBLOWERS - OUTSIDE PIDA 11: Private Information and Public Interest Disclosure 12: Protection of the Identity of Informants 13: Whistleblowing and Copyright 14: Defamation PART III: THE OBLIGATION TO BLOW THE WHISTLE 15: Obligations to Blow the Whistle PART IV: RULES, POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PROBLEMS 16: Whistleblowing Procedures in the Public and Private Sectors APPENDICES Appendix 1: Relevant Statutory Instruments Appendix 2: Case Study Appendix 3: Appellate Whistleblowing Cases Appendix 4: Employment Tribunal Whistleblowing Cases Appendix 5: Precedents Appendix 6: Useful Addresses

About the Author :
John Bowers QC is a Barrister at Littleton Chambers, specializing in both individual and collective employment law, discrimination and pensions law, and judicial review. He also sits as a Recorder on the Midland Circuit and is a Deputy High Court judge. Martin Fodder is a Barrister at Littleton Chambers, specializing in employment law. He has extensive experience of heavyweight whistleblowing cases in both the public and private sectors. Jeremy Lewis is a Barrister at Littleton Chambers, specializing in employment law and business protection. He is a part time Employment Judge in the East Midlands region and is an ADR accredited mediator. Jack Mitchell is a Barrister and Head of the Employment Law Group at 3PB Barristers, specializing exclusively in employment law.