In a recent piece for FT Adviser, White & Case partners Neill Blundell and Brent Wible, with professional support lawyer Phil Taylor, explore the discussion around the potential for UK whistleblowers to receive financial incentives for reporting misconduct.
The article highlights the limited financial incentives currently available in the UK, drawing a contrast with the more substantial rewards offered by US agencies. According to the authors, these US agencies achieve more positive outcomes, suggesting that a shift in the UK’s stance on such incentives could be on the horizon.
Examining the possibility of changes in the UK’s approach, the authors state:
“US experience has shown the importance of anti-retaliation and/or confidentiality protections for whistleblowers, as well as the need for dedicated whistleblower programme staff to manage the intake, review, and processing of reports.”
They further elaborate:
“To be effective, a programme would need appropriate infrastructure – in terms of policy, staff and funding – which may require legislative changes, as well as support from the legal community. Co-operation between regulators so as to ensure an efficient division of resources will also be important.”
Concluding their analysis, they emphasize:
“What is clear is that, before any new UK whistleblower awards programmes are set into play, there are many moving parts to be aligned, and some potentially controversial policy points to be resolved.”
The full article is available in FT Adviser for further reading.
