Summary: Whistleblowing is a topic of growing importance. The pandemic and recent high-profile cases in the media covering for example policing, the NHS and the CBI demonstrate systematic issues of high concern to the public. There is a review underway, commissioned by the Department of Business and Trade, to consider the current whistleblowing framework, due to conclude in November 2023.

The ability to speak up at work and have an employee voice is the cornerstone of a good job and fair work. Employee voice can be part of organisational performance where employees are encouraged to speak up regarding safety concern, commercial risk, or perhaps major problems. Speaking up, or whistleblowing (interchangeable terms in much of the literature), is defined frequently as “the disclosure by organisation members (former or current) of illegal, immoral or illegitimate practices under the control of their employers, to persons or organisations that may be able to affect action” (Near and Miceli, 1985, p.4).

This presentation will cover challenges with the definitions of whistleblowing. It will focus on the different aspects of business psychology which may impact a helpful speak up culture, and point to power dynamics in organisations.

Speaker: 

Michelle Edmondson is undertaking a Doctorate in Business Administration at the University of Cumbria, focusing on Employee Voice and Whistleblowing. Michelle developed a love of business psychology through working in the Behavioural Insights team at Sellafield Ltd and completing a MSc in Organizational Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London in 2022. Whistleblowing was the topic of her MSc dissertation. She is currently writing a book chapter on whistleblowing and has several articles under review for publication.

Michelle is currently the Head of Portfolio Management and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Change Policy within the Nuclear Power, Infrastructure and Decommissioning team at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero until December 2023. Michelle has been in the nuclear sector for over 15 years, with previous experience in marketing and PR within the arts sector and time in what was the National Assembly for Wales (now Senedd). Michelle has a broad range of delivery achievements as a chartered commercial professional, covering procurement, contract management and supply chain relationships, Outside of work Michelle enjoys family life in Cumbria and a variety of hobbies.