Definitions
The definitions below are described in plain language. For the exact definitions, please refer to the Disclosure of Wrongdoing Regulations.
What is a wrongdoing?
Under the regulations, wrongdoing includes:
- Breaking the law;
- Not carrying out official activities in relations to public funds or property;
- Deliberately mismanaging money or property (referred to in the regulations as gross mismanagement);
- Either doing something, or omitting something that creates danger to someone's health or life;
- Any kind of action against someone who has reported a wrongdoing.
What is reprisal action?
Any reprisal action taken against an employee because they have disclosed a wrongdoing, are considering disclosing a wrongdoing, or participate in a disclosure of wrongdoing investigation, is considered to be reprisal action and is in itself a wrongdoing.
Some examples of reprisal are: demotions, disciplinary action, firing, anything that negatively affects an employee's work conditions, or threats to take any of these actions.
