New research from the Chief Ombudsman has raised serious concerns about what happens to workers who speak up about serious wrongdoing in their workplace.
The survey, released for World Whistleblower Day, found around a third of people who reported serious wrongdoing at work last year said they lost their job as a result.
Others reported being bullied, harassed, isolated or treated unfairly after raising concerns.
The findings point to a troubling gap between the protections promised under whistleblower law and the reality faced by some workers who come forward.
Under the Protected Disclosures Protection of Whistleblowers Act 2022, people can report serious wrongdoing in public, private and not-for-profit workplaces. The law is designed to protect workers from retaliation and ensure serious concerns are investigated properly.
Serious wrongdoing can include criminal offending, serious risks to public health or safety, misuse of public money, corruption, gross mismanagement, discrimination or conduct that puts people or the environment at risk.
The Ombudsman says the results show more needs to be done to make workplaces safe for people to speak up.
The survey suggests many workers still fear the consequences of reporting wrongdoing, even when they believe speaking up is the right thing to do. Concerns about job security, bullying and reputational damage remain major barriers.
For Māori, Pasifika, migrant and low-income workers, those risks can be even greater, particularly where whānau depend on one income or where workers feel they may not be believed or protected.
The findings are a warning to employers that having a policy on paper is not enough. Workplaces need clear, trusted and confidential processes that protect people before, during and after a disclosure is made.
The Ombudsman can provide free and confidential guidance to workers considering making a protected disclosure. People do not always have to report concerns to their employer first and may be able to go directly to an appropriate authority.
The message from the latest survey is clear. Workers who expose serious wrongdoing are helping protect the public interest. They should not be punished for doing so.
As more people become aware of their rights, the challenge now is ensuring the system delivers real protection, not just promises.
