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Employment Rights Act 1996 (Part IVA, inserted by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998)

Part IVA (ss 43A–43L), s 47B, s 103A · UK · enacted

Protects workers from detriment or dismissal for public-interest disclosures about crimes, legal breaches, dangers to health or safety, environmental damage or cover-ups. Not AI-specific. Reports to the employer or a prescribed regulator qualify; wider disclosure only under strict conditions.

Who is protected

Workers, a wider group than employees, extended to agency workers, some contractors and trainees (s 43K).

What disclosures are covered

Information the worker reasonably believes is in the public interest and shows a crime, a legal breach, a danger to health or safety, environmental damage, sexual harassment, or a cover-up of these (s 43B).

Where to report

• Employer
• Prescribed persons (listed regulators)
  Only if the worker reasonably believes the information is substantially true (s 43F)
• Other persons, including the media
  Only under the strict conditions in ss 43G–43H

Limits

• Covers England, Wales and Scotland only; Northern Ireland has separate legislation (legislation.gov.uk extent)
• No AI-specific body is among the prescribed regulators (GOV.UK prescribed persons list, 15 September 2026)
• Not a qualifying disclosure if making it is itself a criminal offence (s 43B(3))

Sources

• Employment Rights Act 1996, Part IVA
• Employment Rights Act 1996, s 48 (tribunal complaints)
• Whistleblowing: list of prescribed people and bodies (GOV.UK)

Last verified: 2026-09-30