In a recent FT Adviser article, White & Case partners Neill Blundell and Brent Wible, together with professional support lawyer Phil Taylor, delve into the ongoing debate about whether whistleblowers in the UK should receive financial incentives for reporting misconduct.
The authors highlight that the UK’s current approach offers limited financial rewards and yields mixed outcomes compared to US agencies, which provide more substantial awards. They also point out several signs that suggest a potential shift in the UK’s stance on these incentives.
Discussing possible changes in the UK’s approach and drawing comparisons with US policies, they 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 on what an effective programme would entail: “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.”
The authors conclude by acknowledging that there are numerous aspects to consider before implementing any new UK whistleblower awards programmes: “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.”
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