Copy of FT Adviser – 'Attitudes to whistleblowing changing but reporting programmes face pain points'

In an article for FT Adviser, White & Case partners Neill Blundell and Brent Wible, along with professional support lawyer Phil Taylor, analyze the debate over whether whistleblowers in the UK should receive financial incentives for reporting wrongdoing.

The article explains how the UK offers limited financial incentives and achieves mixed results when compared to the success of US agencies, which provide more generous awards. The authors also note several indicators that may signal a shift in the UK's position on these incentives for whistleblowers.

When describing how the UK's approach may change and comparing its policies with those in the US, the authors write:

"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."

"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."

"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."

Read the full article here.

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