Briefly, Norway’s new law on whistle-blowers

On 16 June and in the light of the research foundation, Fafo’s, 2016 business study, Norway’s parliament adopted an amendment to its workplace law ‘Arbeidsmiljøloven’ that alters regulations over whistle blowers. The Fafo study showed that companies with clear whistle-blowing procedures better managed both the issues and the whistle blowers. Thus from 01 July 2017 companies with more than five employees are required to implement easily available and clearly written whistleblowing procedures that encourage employees to indicate situations where conditions are inacceptable and that clearly outline the procedural steps to be followed. In addition protection from any and all reprisals is to be extended to all workers (temporary and permanent) and in the same vein anonymity must be respected as soon as whistleblowers notify the appropriate monitoring authorities or other public authorities.