Reporting wrongdoing makes the workplace a safer, better place for everyone.
Whistleblower protection plays an essential role in ensuring that employees can safely report wrongdoing without fear of reprisal. For Alberta’s public sector employees, this protection is detailed in the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (the Act), which is administered by the Public Interest Commissioner. A recent survey by the Public Interest Commissioner shows that while the majority of public sector employees are willing to report a wrongdoing, most don’t know how to file a complaint, and most don’t know their protections.
According to the Act, leaders of public sector organizations are required to inform their employees about the legislation and the organization’s internal processes for reporting and investigating public interest disclosures.
A recent example of this educational mandate in action was the 2024 survey, Identifying Barriers to Reporting Workplace Wrongdoing, created by the Public Interest Commissioner’s office and distributed through chief officers to a potential audience of as many as 320,000 public sector employees.
The survey generated a total of 4,335 responses, an impressive response rate, particularly in a public sector environment with ever-increasing demands for time and attention[i].
The survey results, broken down by sector, are available now at Designated Officer Toolkit | Alberta’s Public Interest Commissioner. Among the survey’s key insights:
- One in three public sector employees are unlikely to bring a complaint forward about serious workplace wrongdoing.
- Concerns about “protection from retaliation” and “confidentiality” are the largest barriers to reporting wrongdoing.
- Nearly two thirds of respondents are either unaware of or unsure of the existence of an organization dedicated to investigating wrongdoing in the public sector.
- More than half the respondents are either not sure of or are not aware of any internal policies or procedures within their organizations for reporting wrongdoing or reprisal.
- Of the 38% of respondents who are aware that such an organization exists, only 5% knew the name of the Public Interest Commissioner or the Act.
The distribution of the survey through chief officers was a positive step towards improving employee knowledge of the Act and the protections it provides. The Commissioner’s office has developed strategies for the 2025-2026 business year to further help public sector organizations enhance employee awareness, including:
- Educational initiatives targeted within specific sectors.
- Training materials that public sector organizations may use during the onboarding process for new employees.
- The implementation of a mechanism for employees to access their designated officer, or report wrongdoing to their designated officer, through the Public Interest Commissioner’s office.
A review of the Act is scheduled for 2025 by a legislative committee. The committee may wish to consider the survey results, which suggest a need to bolster awareness of the legislation and its protections.