Whistleblowing

The so-called whistleblower law — lagen om skydd för personer som rapporterar om missförhållande (2021:890) — provides protection for individuals who engage in whistleblowing.

Reporting to the Whistleblower Function

The whistleblower law applies to reports of work-related irregularities where there is a public interest in bringing these issues to light, and to misconduct involving actions or omissions that violate EU law. The law offers the whistleblower protection in the form of immunity from liability and protection against obstructive measures and reprisals.

Work-Related Context

Reports must be made in a work-related context. A work-related context refers to a person’s current or previous employment, through which they may have acquired information about irregularities and be at risk of reprisals for reporting them. The Whistleblower Act specifies certain categories of persons who are covered by its protection.

Irregularities of Public Interest

For a report to be considered of public interest, the reported misconduct must concern a group of people that can be regarded as the general public. Additionally, the public must have a legitimate interest in the disclosure of the irregularities. The more frequent and systematic the misconduct, the greater the societal interest in addressing or stopping it.

Complaints that relate to a personal conflict between the whistleblower and another employee, or cases that only concern the reporting individual’s own work or employment conditions, are generally not covered by the law.

Actions or Omissions in Violation of EU Law

The law also applies to reports of misconduct that consist of actions or omissions in violation of EU law, such as specific EU regulations, laws, or provisions detailed in the legislation.

How to Report

Reports can be submitted via:

• Email: visselblasning@miun.se
• Postal mail: Mid Sweden University, Whistleblower Function, 851 70 Sundsvall
• Electronic form: see form below
• Phone call: see contact persons for phone numbers

Through all these channels, the whistleblower can submit a written report directly, request a personal meeting, or ask to be called for an oral report.

Reports must include sufficient information to determine whether the matter should be handled by the whistleblower function or referred to another official or authority. It is important that the whistleblower function can contact the reporter, as additional information will likely be needed during the investigation. A report should include:

• A clear description of the observed corruption or misconduct.
• Identification of the individual(s) involved.
• Any supporting documentation, if available.
• Contact information.

A report to the whistleblower function must be made in good faith and not with the intent to discredit someone or for personal gain. Anyone who knowingly provides false information may be committing a criminal offense.

Read about the investigation
Read about personal data and anonymity
More information about corruption and other irregularities

Anonymous Whistleblowing

There is no obligation to accept anonymous whistleblower reports. Therefore, the university requires the reporting person to provide their identity in order to verify that they belong to the categories protected by the law.

If the whistleblower does not provide their identity, the report is not considered a whistleblower report under the whistleblower law. In that case, the reporter cannot expect the protections granted by the law. Anonymous reports are instead treated as general feedback.

Other Ways to Report Corruption and Misconduct

There are other ways to report corruption and irregularities besides whistleblowing. Possible channels include:

• Immediate supervisor or the next level of management
• The HR department or the university’s legal office
• The media

In many cases, it is most appropriate to contact your immediate supervisor, or the level above if the former is not suitable. In other cases, it may be appropriate to contact the HR department or the university’s legal function. If you prefer not to contact any internal function, you may instead use the constitutionally protected freedom to provide information (meddelarfrihet) available to all university employees and report directly to the media. This whistleblower protection is the strongest form of anonymity protection and includes a prohibition against the university investigating who has provided information to the media.