Following a consultation exercise, the Government is in the process of making further amendments, both legislative and non-legislative, to the existing whistleblowing framework on the basis that it does not always serve to prevent malpractice from taking place, nor does it encourage people to raise their concerns.
The proposed changes include the introduction of a requirement for prescribed persons to report annually on any action taken as a result of a protected disclosure. A consultation seeking views on the implementation of this power has now been launched and can be found here. The consultation closes on 30 September 2014.
It is advisable for employers to have a formal whistleblowing procedure in place and to make sure that all employees are aware of it. We can advise you on drawing up a policy tailored to meet the needs of your business.