Describe your whistleblowing situation and get instant plain English guidance on your rights — protected disclosures, retaliation and what to do next. Checked against official sources.
↓ Try the Checker NowWhistleblowing protection applies when you make a protected disclosure — reporting wrongdoing in the public interest to your employer or a prescribed person. Protected disclosures cover criminal offences, health and safety dangers, environmental damage, miscarriages of justice and cover-ups.
Dismissal or detriment for making a protected disclosure is automatically unfair — there is no qualifying period and compensation is uncapped. You can report to regulators such as the FCA, HSE, HMRC or CQC directly.
Key areas covered: whistleblowing, protected disclosure, detriment, automatic unfair dismissal, prescribed persons, PIDA. Checked against official sources.
You need a reasonable belief that your disclosure is in the public interest and tends to show one of the specific protected categories of wrongdoing — you don't need conclusive proof before disclosing, since establishing the full facts is often part of what a proper investigation is for.
A clear pattern showing negative treatment beginning shortly after your disclosure is significant evidence, even though timing alone isn't automatically conclusive — tribunals take a close, sudden change in treatment very seriously when assessing whether genuine retaliation has occurred.
This checker gives you a plain English read on your specific situation, answered only from its own guide for your part of the UK, checked against official sources. No login needed, and your answer is generated instantly based on what you tell us.
Our guidance covers many common situations, but complex or high-stakes cases need professional advice. For employment issues, contact ACAS in England, Wales and Scotland (0300 123 1100) or the Labour Relations Agency in Northern Ireland (03300 555 300). For free general advice, contact Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020), Citizens Advice Scotland (0800 028 1456) or Advice NI (0800 915 4604). For urgent housing problems in England, Shelter can help on 0808 800 4444.
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Describe what you have reported or want to report and we'll check your protections
Tip: Include what wrongdoing you reported or witnessed, what happened after you reported it, and how long you have worked for your employer for the clearest answer.
Include what you reported, who you reported it to and when, and what has happened to you since.
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What counts as a protected disclosure for whistleblowing?
A protected disclosure is information you reasonably believe shows wrongdoing in the public interest — including criminal activity, health and safety dangers, environmental damage, miscarriages of justice, or a cover-up. It must be made to an appropriate person such as your employer, a prescribed regulator, or a legal adviser.
Am I protected from dismissal for whistleblowing?
Yes. If you are dismissed because you made a protected disclosure, this is automatically unfair dismissal under the Employment Rights Act 1996 in England, Wales and Scotland, and under the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 in Northern Ireland. There is no qualifying period — you can claim from Day 1. There is also no cap on compensation.
What is detriment for whistleblowing?
Detriment means any disadvantage suffered as a result of making a protected disclosure — including demotion, exclusion from meetings, denial of training, or hostile treatment. You can bring a tribunal claim for detriment even if you have not been dismissed.
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✉️ Generate My Letter Free →The checker answers only from the guide for the nation you choose, plus what you tell it. If your question is not covered there, it says so instead of guessing. Each guide was checked against primary sources on 24 September 2026.
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Directed and published by Matt Thompson, founder of UK Work Rights. Guidance checked against GOV.UK, ACAS and legislation.gov.uk. This is general rights guidance, not legal advice.
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