The Jersey Employment Forum calls for protection for whistleblowers

The Jersey Employment Forum has issued a landmark recommendation to introduce statutory protections for whistleblowers, marking a significant step toward greater transparency and accountability in the island’s workplaces.

The Forum’s 75-page report proposes the creation of a standalone Public Interest Disclosure Law, aimed at safeguarding individuals who raise concerns about wrongdoing in the public interest.

The Forum, which conducted broad public consultation throughout 2024, found overwhelming support for formal whistleblowing legislation from unions, legal professionals, employers, and the wider community.

“The absence of statutory whistleblowing legislation continues to undermine protection for people who are left in a difficult position when they come across wrongdoing,” stated the Jersey Community Relations Trust.

Unite the Union called the legislative gap “a significant deficiency” and emphasized that whistleblowers deserve “a key right” to protection against retaliation.

Under the proposed framework, whistleblowers would gain immediate protection—regardless of how long they’ve been employed – against unfair dismissal or other detriment.

Protected disclosures would cover a broad range of issues, including criminal activity, breaches of health and safety or data protection laws, environmental harm, miscarriages of justice, and cover-ups of wrongdoing.

Notably, disclosures made outside of Jersey could also qualify, provided the harm suffered occurred within the island.