Guides › Work and Employment › Whistleblowing at Work: Your Protection
Whistleblowing at Work: Your Protection
Whistleblowing is reporting wrongdoing at work that is in the public interest, such as a crime, a danger to health and safety, environmental damage, sexual harassment or a cover-up. If you report it the right way, you are protected from unfair treatment, and employees from dismissal, from your first day.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
What Counts
Wrongdoing Covered
Criminal offences such as fraud, breaking legal obligations, miscarriages of justice, risks to health and safety, environmental damage, sexual harassment, and deliberately covering up any of these. source
Public Interest
You must reasonably believe reporting it is in the public interest. Generally the wrongdoing affects others, not just you. source
Who to Tell
Routes
Your employer; a legal adviser; or a prescribed person (a regulator) if the issue is within their remit and you believe the information is substantially true. Telling the media is protected only in limited circumstances. source
If You Are Treated Badly
You can claim at a tribunal after telling Acas. Claims must generally be made within 6 months. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 7 daysFor interim reliefIf dismissed and you want pay to continue until the case is decided
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 4
Write down what you saw and when.
Step 2 of 4
Report it in writing to your employer or the right regulator.
Step 3 of 4
Keep copies.
Step 4 of 4
If you suffer for it, get advice quickly.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Acas Helpline
Free and confidential. 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Protect
The whistleblowing charity: free, confidential advice.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Rules here are for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own employment law, the Labour Relations Agency and industrial tribunals; see nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/guidance/whistleblowing-guidance-for-workers Checked 15 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/contact Checked 8 October 2026