Prospect union claims government 'systemic failures' in whistleblowing process

Union calls for independent oversight and review of whistleblowing system

The trade union Prospect has accused the government of presiding over “systemic failures” in how it handles whistleblowing cases.

Mick Hewer of Prospect claims members who raise concerns in good faith are met with “obstruction rather than protection,” despite assurances in the Whistleblowing Policy and the Employment Act.

The union has published a list of concerns it says show the process is not working as intended.

Among them are lengthy delays to investigations, breaches of confidentiality, and conflicts of interest involving the Office of Human Resources.

It also claims disclosures are sometimes downgraded to complaints, removing statutory protections, while some whistleblowers have faced suspension, exclusion or reputational damage.

Prospect further raises issues over sensitive information entering the public domain, the absence of an appeals process, and the alleged use of employment procedures to discredit individuals who raise concerns.

It highlights safeguarding and health and safety disclosures which it says remain unresolved.

The union argues this creates an imbalance, noting that government departments can draw on unlimited legal support from the Attorney General’s Chambers while whistleblowers are left to self-fund their cases.

It echoes recent comments by the chair of the Employment and Equality Tribunal, who said complainants facing government departments often feel like “fish out of water”.

Mr Hewer believes the pattern of delays, reclassification of disclosures and attempts to discredit evidence showed that the current system “undermines public safety, weakens accountability and silences those who speak out in the public interest”.

Prospect is calling for an immediate independent oversight body to handle whistleblowing cases, along with a review of how the government complies with its own policies and the Employment Act.

The union says such a body must be free to access and have statutory powers to ensure cases are dealt with openly and transparently.

Manx Radio has approached the government for comment.