News In Focus
7 August 2008
British Standards launch whistleblowing code
Ten years after legal protection was brought in for "whistleblowing" employees who uncover criminal behaviour or dangerous practices within their employers' organisations, BSI British Standards has published a code of practice for whistleblowing arrangements.
The national standards organisation's Publicly Available Specification PAS 1998 Whistleblowing sets out good practice for the introduction, revision, operation and review of effective whistleblowing arrangements.
Research for the Institute of Business Ethics has shown that while one in four employees are aware of misconduct at work, more than half (52%) of those stay silent.
PAS 1998 sets out good practice for the introduction, revision, operation and review of effective whistleblowing arrangements. With increasing emphasis on the role that whistleblowing plays "both as an instrument of good governance and a manifestation of a more open culture", the code has been developed to be of assistance to organisations across the private, public and voluntary sectors.
However the guidance is of particular relevance to public bodies, listed companies and organisations (e.g. in the health and care sectors) where there is legislative or regulatory expectation that effective whistleblowing arrangements are in place.
The code is available at www.bsigroup.com/pas1998.