What Will Happen in My Whistleblowing Case? Claims Doubled in 12 Months
This article applies to England, Wales and Scotland.
Important: This guide provides information about UK employment law. It is not legal advice. Every situation is different. If you are dealing with a workplace dispute, consider speaking to a solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances.
In brief: Whistleblowing claims (public interest disclosure) more than doubled in twelve months, from 758 to 1,546 complaints in Q2 2025/26, a 104% increase. Of disposed claims, 30% settled through ACAS conciliation, 0% succeeded at a full hearing in Q2, and 84% were resolved without ever reaching a hearing. The backlog for whistleblowing cases grew 298%, the fastest of any claim type, and currently stands at 4,298 open cases.
Last updated: February 2026
If you reported wrongdoing at work and faced retaliation, you are part of a rapidly growing group. Whistleblowing claims have increased faster than any other type of tribunal complaint over the past year. The data from those cases can help you understand what to expect from the process and where things are most likely to end up.
The figures in this article come from the Ministry of Justice's Employment Tribunal Statistics (Reform system data), covering Q2 2024/25 through Q2 2025/26. Whistleblowing claims are formally known as "public interest disclosure" claims under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (Part IVA), as amended.
How many people are in your position?
Whistleblowing is the fastest-growing claim type in the tribunal system. In Q2 2025/26 (July to September 2025), 1,546 whistleblowing complaints were filed, representing 17% of all single claims.
| Quarter | Whistleblowing complaints | Share of all claims |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2024/25 (Jul-Sep 2024) | 758 | 13% |
| Q3 2024/25 (Oct-Dec 2024) | 888 | 14% |
| Q4 2024/25 (Jan-Mar 2025) | 1,036 | 14% |
| Q1 2025/26 (Apr-Jun 2025) | 1,332 | 15% |
| Q2 2025/26 (Jul-Sep 2025) | 1,546 | 17% |
That is a 104% increase compared to Q2 2024/25, when 758 complaints were filed. No other major claim type grew at even close to that rate over the same period. The share of total claims also rose from 13% to 17%.
Whistleblowing protection applies when you make a "qualifying disclosure" about wrongdoing that you reasonably believe is in the public interest. This can include reporting criminal offences, breaches of a legal obligation, dangers to health and safety, damage to the environment, or a deliberate attempt to cover up any of these. The disclosure can be made to your employer, a prescribed person (such as a regulator), or in certain circumstances, more widely.
Whistleblowing claims are almost always filed alongside other complaints. The most common pairings are with unfair dismissal (where the dismissal is alleged to be connected to the disclosure) and discrimination. There is no qualifying service period for whistleblowing protection, which means employees of any length of service can bring a claim.
How will your case most likely end?
The tribunal disposed of 519 whistleblowing complaints in Q2 2025/26. Here is how they were resolved:
| Outcome | Percentage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ACAS conciliated settlement | 30% | Settled through ACAS before hearing |
| Withdrawn or dismissed | 54% | Claim withdrawn by claimant or dismissed by tribunal |
| Struck out | 5% | Tribunal removed the claim (procedural failure or no prospect) |
| Unsuccessful at hearing | 4% | Went to full hearing, employer won |
| Successful at hearing | 0% | No claims succeeded at hearing in Q2 |
| Default judgment | 2% | Employer failed to respond, claimant won by default |
| Other | 5% | Includes various procedural outcomes |
The key figures: if you imagine 100 whistleblowing claims filed today, around 30 would settle through ACAS, none succeeded at a full hearing in the latest quarter, and 84 would be resolved without ever reaching a hearing. Only around 4 in every 100 claims went to a contested hearing.
The 0% hearing success rate in Q2 2025/26 needs context. Whistleblowing cases are among the hardest to win at a full hearing because the claimant must prove both that they made a qualifying disclosure and that the employer's treatment was materially influenced by that disclosure. The burden of proof is demanding, and employers often argue that any action they took was for unrelated reasons.
The 5% struck-out rate is also notable. Whistleblowing claims are sometimes struck out at a preliminary hearing if the tribunal decides the disclosure does not meet the legal definition of a qualifying or protected disclosure.
How long will it take?
There is no specific clearance data published for whistleblowing as a standalone category in Table T_3. However, whistleblowing claims are typically complex and often filed alongside discrimination or unfair dismissal, which means they tend to follow similar timelines. The overall average for all claims is 28 weeks, but complex multi-jurisdiction claims often take longer.
Based on the characteristics of whistleblowing cases (multiple jurisdictions, factual complexity, potential preliminary hearings on the nature of the disclosure), expect a timeline closer to 30-34 weeks for the average case.
For a full comparison of timelines across claim types, see our waiting times analysis.
The backlog: what is waiting ahead of you
The open caseload for whistleblowing stands at 4,298 complaints as of Q2 2025/26, up from 1,080 a year earlier. That is a 298% increase in twelve months, the fastest backlog growth of any claim type.
| Period | Open whistleblowing cases | Total open caseload | Share of backlog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2024/25 | 1,080 | 7,571 | 14% |
| Q2 2025/26 | 4,298 | 25,267 | 17% |
Whistleblowing's share of the total backlog grew from 14% to 17%. The 298% growth rate compares with 254% for unfair dismissal and 262% for disability discrimination. Claims are entering the system far faster than they are being cleared.
What this means for you
The data reveals some important patterns if you are considering or already pursuing a whistleblowing claim.
Settlement is the most common positive outcome. At 30%, whistleblowing's ACAS settlement rate is in line with the overall average. Given the complexity and cost of litigating these cases at a full hearing, ACAS early conciliation offers a realistic route to resolution. Employers often have strong incentives to settle whistleblowing claims to avoid the reputational damage of a public hearing about alleged wrongdoing.
Winning at a hearing is exceptionally difficult. No whistleblowing claims succeeded at a hearing in Q2 2025/26. While this is a single quarter's data and the number will fluctuate, it reflects a consistent pattern: whistleblowing claims face a high evidential bar. You need to show not just that you made a qualifying disclosure, but that the employer's detrimental treatment was because of that disclosure, not for some other reason. Gathering evidence that links the two, such as the timing of events, changes in treatment after the disclosure, and any communications referencing the disclosure, is critical.
The definition of "qualifying disclosure" matters. Around 5% of whistleblowing claims are struck out, often at the preliminary stage when the tribunal assesses whether the alleged disclosure actually meets the legal test. Not every workplace complaint counts as whistleblowing. The disclosure must relate to one of the specified categories of wrongdoing, and the person making it must reasonably believe it is in the public interest. Understanding this test before filing can help you assess whether whistleblowing protection applies to your situation.
There is no qualifying service period. Unlike unfair dismissal, which currently requires two years of continuous service (reducing to six months under the Employment Rights Act 2025), whistleblowing protection applies from day one of employment. Workers, agency workers, and some other categories of worker are also covered.
Compensation is uncapped. Whistleblowing claims have no statutory cap on compensation, unlike standard unfair dismissal. Awards are based on actual losses suffered, which can include loss of earnings, injury to feelings, and in some cases aggravated damages.
Time limits still apply. You need to start ACAS early conciliation within three months minus one day of the detrimental treatment or dismissal. The backlog does not extend your deadline. Once the Employment Rights Act 2025 changes take effect (expected October 2026), this may extend to six months.
For whistleblowing cases, which involve some of the most complex legal arguments in employment law, consider speaking to a solicitor who specialises in this area.
For guidance on your specific situation, including eligibility and next steps, try our free assessment. Learn more about our claims packages, or create a free account to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many whistleblowing claims are being filed?
In Q2 2025/26, 1,546 whistleblowing complaints were filed, more than double the 758 filed in the same quarter a year earlier. Whistleblowing is the fastest-growing claim type in the tribunal system, with a 104% year-on-year increase.
What percentage of whistleblowing claims succeed?
In Q2 2025/26, no whistleblowing claims succeeded at a full hearing. Around 30% settle through ACAS conciliation, and 84% are resolved without reaching a hearing. The low hearing success rate reflects the high evidential bar: claimants must prove the employer's actions were materially influenced by the protected disclosure.
What counts as whistleblowing at work?
A qualifying disclosure is when you report information that you reasonably believe shows wrongdoing in the public interest. This includes criminal offences, failure to comply with a legal obligation, dangers to health and safety, damage to the environment, miscarriages of justice, or attempts to cover up any of these. General workplace complaints or personal grievances typically do not qualify.
Do I need two years' service to bring a whistleblowing claim?
No. Whistleblowing protection applies from your first day of employment. There is no minimum qualifying service period, and the protection extends to workers, agency workers, and some other categories beyond traditional employees.
Is compensation for whistleblowing claims capped?
No. Unlike standard unfair dismissal (which currently has a maximum compensatory award of £118,223), whistleblowing compensation is uncapped. Awards are based on your actual financial losses and can include injury to feelings awards.
Sources
- "Employment Tribunal Statistics, Tables ET_1_R, ET_2_R, ET_4_R", Ministry of Justice / HM Courts & Tribunals Service, 2025 — https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics
- "Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2025", Ministry of Justice, 2025 — https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2025/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2025
- Employment Rights Act 1996, Part IVA — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18/part/IVA
- "Whistleblowing at work", ACAS — https://www.acas.org.uk/whistleblowing-at-work