Whistle-blowing legislation 'being abused'

Within the UK, whistle-blowing legislation is being abused, it has been claimed.

According to reports, using the UK's Public Disclosure Act 1998, there are those - including those employed within the financial services sector - who are trying to make use of the law as a way to win large cash settlements, reports Personnel Today.

Indeed, a case against Japanese bank Nomura was recently dismissed by a tribunal.

"[The UK government should remove] the blanket of secrecy," said Guy Dehn, director of Public Concern at Work, a charity.

"The growing use of [whistleblowing] legislation by white men as a litigation tactic, when in dispute with City employers, suggests the legislation is being abused," added Stephen Sidebottom, head of human resources at Nomura.

Under the terms of the Public Disclosure Act 1998, employers are able to obtain legal protection against the possible consequences of raising concerns over workplace practices deemed to being either unsafe or illegal.

Nomura is a member of the Nomura Group, an organisation with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.