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Whistleblowing Policy · England and Wales

Whistleblowing policy

Last updated: 21 June 2026 | Version 1.0

This policy explains how workers can report concerns about wrongdoing in the public interest — including safety failures, illegal activity, and data protection breaches — relating to the OptiTech Automation platform or to the Business Owner who engages them. OptiTech Automation is operated by Cristian Moise-Putanu, sole trader, Torquay, Devon, England.

1. What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is when you report wrongdoing in the public interest. The law protects you from being treated badly for doing so.

Whistleblowing is when you report a concern about wrongdoing in the public interest. The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA 1998) protects you from being treated badly for making a qualifying disclosure — even if what you report turns out to be wrong, as long as you believed it to be true and acted in good faith.

2. What qualifies as a protected disclosure?

The following categories of concern are protected under PIDA 1998. You do not need certainty — a reasonable belief is enough.

Under PIDA 1998, a protected disclosure is a report of information that you reasonably believe tends to show one or more of the following:

  • A criminal offence — for example, an employer engaging workers illegally, or fraud.
  • Failure to comply with a legal obligation — for example, non-payment of the National Minimum Wage, failure to conduct right-to-work checks, or gas work carried out by an unregistered engineer.
  • A risk to health and safety — for example, you have been asked to perform gas fitting work without being registered with Gas Safe Register.
  • An environmental risk.
  • A miscarriage of justice.
  • Deliberate concealment of any of the above.

3. What whistleblowing is not

This policy covers public-interest wrongdoing. Personal grievances about your pay or conditions, commercial disagreements, and booking complaints are handled separately.

This policy covers concerns about wrongdoing in the public interest. It does not cover: personal grievances about your pay or working conditions (take those to your employer); disagreements about a business decision; or complaints about a specific booking (use the booking complaints process for those).

4. Your employment rights

PIDA 1998 protects you from dismissal or detriment by your employer if you blow the whistle. OptiTech Automation is not your employer — this protection runs against the Business Owner.

If you blow the whistle, you are protected from dismissal or detriment by your employer under PIDA 1998. This protection is against your employer — the Business Owner — not against OptiTech Automation. OptiTech Automation is not your employer. If you believe your employer has dismissed you or treated you badly because you blew the whistle, you may bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal.

5. How to report to OptiTech Automation

If your concern is about the OptiTech Automation platform itself — a data breach, a safety issue with how the platform works, or a legal compliance failure — report it to us directly.

If your concern relates to the OptiTech Automation platform itself — for example, a data breach, a safety issue with how the platform works, or a concern that OptiTech Automation is not complying with UK law — report it to: legal@optitechautomation.co.uk. Mark your email 'Whistleblowing — Confidential'.

legal@optitechautomation.co.uk

We will:

  • Acknowledge your report within 5 working days.
  • Investigate appropriately.
  • Keep your identity confidential where possible.
  • Not retaliate against you for making a genuine report.

6. How to report concerns about your employer

If your concern is about the Business Owner who engages you — for example, unregistered gas work, NMW non-payment, or illegal working — contact the relevant regulator directly.

If your concern is about the Business Owner who engages you — for example, they are asking you to perform gas work without Gas Safe registration, they are not paying the National Minimum Wage, or they are engaging illegal workers — contact the relevant regulator:

7. Confidentiality

We protect your identity wherever possible. If we cannot investigate without disclosing who you are, we will speak with you first.

We will keep your identity confidential where possible. If we cannot investigate without revealing your identity, we will discuss this with you first before taking any step that would disclose who you are.

8. Record keeping

All reports received by OptiTech Automation are logged and retained for 6 years.

All whistleblowing reports received by OptiTech Automation are logged and retained for 6 years in accordance with our data retention policy. Records are held securely and accessed only by persons who need them to investigate or respond to your report.

9. Governing law

This policy is governed by the laws of England and Wales. Nothing in this policy limits your statutory rights under PIDA 1998 or any other applicable legislation.

Questions about this policy: legal@optitechautomation.co.uk.