The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, which came into force on 2 July
1999, provides protection for 'whistleblowers' - workers who are dismissed
or victimised
as a result of making a qualifying disclosure. It applies both to employees,
whose dismissal (or selection for redundancy) will be held to be unfair if
it is wholly or mainly for making a disclosure within the meaning of the Act,
and
to workers who are not employees, who can complain to an employment tribunal
that they have suffered a detriment if their contracts are terminated for
making such a disclosure, compensation being awarded on the same basis as for
unfair
dismissal. Both employees and workers who are not employees are also protected
from detrimental action or deliberate inaction by their employer falling
short of dismissal or termination of contract.
There is no qualifying period of service or age limit for employees who wish
to complain that they have been dismissed for a reason described in this
section.