Glossary
Protected Disclosure
A protected disclosure is a report of an EU or national law breach that triggers automatic protection from retaliation under EU Directive 2019/1937 Articles 5 to 15. The reporter must have had reasonable grounds to believe the information was true at the time of reporting. False or malicious reports are not protected.
Full definition
A protected disclosure is a report of a breach of EU or national law that, provided it meets the conditions in EU Directive 2019/1937 (Articles 5-15), automatically protects the reporter from retaliation. The disclosure must be made to an internal channel, an external authority, or, in narrowly defined circumstances, to the public (e.g., media). The reporter must have had reasonable grounds to believe the information was true at the time of reporting. False or malicious reports are not protected.
Related terms
- Whistleblower Under EU Directive 2019/1937, a whistleblower is any natural person who reports breaches of EU or national law acquired in a work-related context. The scope covers employees, ex-employees, applicants, contractors, suppliers, shareholders, volunteers, and board members. Protection applies whenever the reporter had reasonable grounds to believe the information was true.
- Internal Reporting Channel A confidential mechanism inside an organisation through which employees and other workers can report breaches. EU Directive 2019/1937 Article 8 requires every legal entity with 50 or more employees to operate one, accept reports in writing, orally, or through a physical meeting, acknowledge within 7 days, and provide substantive feedback within 3 months.