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Harrow Council is relaunching its own 'whistleblowing' policy to remind staff that they won't lose their jobs if they call time on bad practice. The authority believes it is important to restate the policy during the current financial turmoil when some staff might, over fears for their job security, be more reluctant to speak out. Employees who feel they need to speak out in the public interest about dangerous or corrupt practices in their workplace already have legal protection under law.* But Harrow Council, the borough's largest employer with 7,500 staff on the payroll, is launching a new series of workshops to tell its own staff they can speak out without fear of victimisation. Hugh Peart, Harrow Council's Director of Legal & Governance Services, said: "Council staff are involved a range of activities, from the office systems that handle budgets running into millions to our employees who may be on building sites or operating heavy machinery. "Should they ever have concerns about malpractice, we want them to be reassured they can raise those issues without being 'got at' afterwards." Harrow Council has had two instances of 'whistleblowing' in the past two years. In both cases, instances of malpractice were identified and stopped. New employees at Harrow Council are told about the whistleblowing procedures as part of their induction. The Council formally introduced its own policy in 2001, updating it in March 2007. Mr Peart added: "This is an organisation handling a budget of £600 million a year and residents should know we are working to make sure every pound of it is properly spent." Further information: The right to 'whistleblow' is protected for all employees in law by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. If Harrow Council staff feel unable to discuss a serious concern with their immediate manager, they are encouraged to contact either Hugh Peart or Myfanwy Barrett, corporate director of finance. Staff are also pointed to an independent charity, Public Concern At Work www.pcaw.co.uk, if they feel unable to raise concerns within the council. Harrow Council has a hotline number - 0208 424 1834 - for anyone who believes they have information about benefit fraud in the wider community. www.harrow.gov.uk |
