United Kingdom: Whistleblowing

The FCA's latest enforcement data reveals a dramatic shift in regulatory priorities, with over 75% of enforcement operations now concentrated on financial crime. This analysis examines the breakdown of these investigations, the rising influence of whistleblowing disclosures, and what this strategic realignment means for firms navigating an increasingly focused regulatory landscape.

A recent investigation has uncovered serious allegations of patient safety failures at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, including claims of inadequate incident reporting, suppressed whistleblowing, and systemic governance problems. Staff describe patients allegedly dying in overcrowded emergency departments, delayed diagnoses, and concerns that serious incidents are being downgraded or closed without proper investigation.

The Financial Conduct Authority's new rules on non-financial misconduct, effective September 1, 2026, present significant challenges for financial services firms navigating the intersection of regulatory compliance and employment law. This comprehensive guide examines the regulatory framework, identifies key risk areas including social media activity and whistleblowing, and provides strategic considerations for HR professionals preparing for implementation.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 represents one of the most significant overhauls of UK employment law in a generation. It covers a wide range of issues...

Each month we pull together the employment law updates that matter most to HR professionals and in-house lawyers, in plain English.

Employment Tribunal claims have surged by 54% in Q3 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by increases in whistleblowing and discrimination cases, as well as AI-enabled claim preparation by unrepresented parties. With the Employment Rights Act 2025 provisions yet to take full effect and no significant investment in tribunal resources, the system faces mounting delays and cancellations that threaten workers' ability to enforce their rights.

The House of Lords has this evening (10 December) rejected the government's amended unfair dismissal provisions in the Employment Rights Bill and sent the Bill back to the Commons once again (by 244 votes to 220).

The Government has introduced a new ‘strengthened reward scheme' to incentivise informants to report serious tax avoidance or evasion to HMRC.

Confidentiality clauses, or nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), have become a topic of significant interest because of how they can be used to prevent employees from reporting...