Talk to union first, whistleblowers told

Workers are being warned to talk to their union or representative body before making a disclosure under the new whistleblower legislation to ensure they are fully protected under the laws.

The Government yesterday announced the commencement of the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014, its “comprehensive” whistleblower legislation which provides a framework of protections for people who are victimised, or threatened with victimisation for revealing illegal practices in the workplace.

Employers will now be legally barred from victimising or sacking staff for making protected disclosures. However, unions warned that workers must meet proper criteria to ensure that their revelations were “protected disclosures” under the law.