Reprisal Protection
- What is a reprisal?
- How am I Protected under the PSDPA?
- If you experience reprisal in your workplace after making a protected disclosure
Many things go through your mind when deciding whether to flag wrongdoing by an employee of the department. One of the most common concerns is the fear that if someone in your organization finds out that you made the disclosure, your work life could be negatively affected.
What is a reprisal?
Reprisal is any measure taken against a public servant because he or she has made a protected disclosure or cooperated in good faith in an investigation into a disclosure. This can include:
- disciplinary measures;
- demotion;
- termination of employment; or
- any other measure that could adversely affect the employment or working conditions of that person, including a threat to take any of these measures or to direct another person to do so.
The Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner (PSIC) has the sole jurisdiction in handling reprisal complaints under the PSDPA.
If you made a protected disclosure or participated as a witness in a wrongdoing investigation and reprisal actions have been taken against you, contact the PSIC as soon as possible.
How am I Protected under the PSDPA?
A disclosure of wrongdoing made under the Public Servant Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA) is a protected disclosure. A protected disclosure means a disclosure that is made in good faith and that is made by a public servant.
- In accordance with the PSDPA;
- In the course of a parliamentary proceeding;
- In the course of a procedure established under any other Act of Parliament; or
- When lawfully required to do so.
Please consult the information available below to find out more about how you are protected under the PSDPA.