Dismissing employees

Workers who suspect wrongdoing and 'blow the whistle' to disclose these concerns to their employer are protected from dismissal or other negative consequences - as long as certain criteria are met. This law intends to help businesses quickly identify and resolve such problems.

The term 'workers' refers to those who work under:

• a contract of employment, eg employees
• some other contract to perform work personally, eg casual workers

It does not cover the genuinely self-employed.

The whistleblowing law also covers NHS practitioners, such as:

• GPs
• certain dentists
• pharmacists
• opticians

It also covers:

• agency workers
• certain categories of trainee
• those who contract to provide services to a health and social care board
• those who contract to provide services to a business via their own limited company - even if introduced via an employment agency or employment business
• student nurses and student midwives who undertake work experience as part of a course of education or training approved by, or under arrangements with, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)