Analyzing Whistleblowing Provisions in Turkish Law in the European Context

Year 2024, Issue: 75, 281 - 306, 06.01.2025

Hasan Kayırgan , Mustafa Nalbant

https://doi.org/10.26650/annales.2024.75.0011

Abstract

Whistleblowing at the workplace is the act of reporting or disclosing information about illegal, unethical, or improper activities occurring within an organization. This disclosure can be made by an employee or any member of the organization who has access to confidential information. Whistleblowing aims to expose misconduct that might otherwise remain hidden, such as fraud, corruption, safety violations, and other forms of malpractise, to protect public interest and ensure accountability. It often involves notifying higher authorities, regulatory bodies, or the public about wrongdoing. This act of notification is crucial for workplace transparency and accountability. However, balancing the duty of loyalty owed by employees to their employer with their right to freedom of expression poses significant challenges. Determining which actions are protected by whistleblowing principles is vital for maintaining this balance. Concerning this issue, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has developed a checklist to assess which whistleblowing actions warrant protection. This research analyzes Turkish regulations concerning workplace whistleblowing considering the ECtHR’s decisions. By examining the alignment of Turkish provisions with international standards, this study seeks to provide comprehensive insights into current laws’ protection of whistleblowers while ensuring organizational integrity.

Keywords

Whistleblowing, Disclosing Information, Workplace, Employment, ECtHR

References

• Abazi, V. “Truth Distancing? Whistleblowing as Remedy to Censorship during COVID-19” (2020) 11(2) European Journal of Risk Regulation, 375-381. google scholar
• Akyiğit, E., Bireysel İş Hukuku (3nd. Edn., Seçkin 2023). google scholar
• Alexander, C., Gesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb: UWG, Köhler/Bornkamm/Feddersen (Edts) (42th Edit. Beck, 2024), GeschGehG § 5 Ausnahmen en 43-45. google scholar
• Alp, M., “Avrupa Birliği’nin 2019/1937 Sayılı Birlik Hukukuna Aykırılıkları Bildirenlerin Korunması (Whistleblowing) Yönergesi Işığında İşçinin Hukuka Aykırılıkları İfşa Etmesi”, (2021) 23(1) Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 1-37. google scholar
• Alp, M., Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi’nin Heinisch/Almanya Kararı Işığında Whistleblowing (İşçinin İfşa ve İhbarı) ve İş İlişkisinde İfade Özgürlüğü, Prof. Dr. Polat Soyer’e Armağan (2013) 15 Özel Sayı, DEÜHFD 385-422. google scholar
• Alp, M., Çalışanın İşvereni ve İş Arkadaşlarını İhbar Etmesi, Çalışanın Hukuka ve Etik Kurallara Aykırılıkları İfşa Hakkı ve İhbar ve Borcu, Whistleblowing (Beta, 2013). google scholar
• Alpagut, G., “İfşa-İhbar Hakkına İlişkin Avrupa Birliği Yönergesi ve Avrupa İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi İçtihatları” in Alpay Hekimler (ed), Festschritt Für Otto Kaufmann Armağanı (Legal, 2021) 3-24. google scholar
• Alpagut, G. ‘İşçinin Sadakat Borcu ve Türk Borçlar Kanunu ile Getirilen Düzenlemeler’, (2012) 7(25) Sicil İş Hukuku Dergisi, 23-32 google scholar
• Apaza, C. R., Chang, Y., Chokprajakchat, S. and Devine, T., “Summary and Conclusions” in Carmen R. Apaza and Yongjin Chang (eds), Whistleblowing in The World (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017. google scholar
• Aydın, U. “İş Hukuku Açısından İşçinin Bilgi Whistleblowing” Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, (2002- 2003) 2(2). google scholar
• Başbuğ, A., and Yücel Bodur, M., İş Hukuku (6th. Edn., Beta, 2021). google scholar
• Boyne, S. “Financial Incentives and Truth-Telling: The Growth of Whistle-Blowing Legislation in the United States” in Gregor Thüsing and Gerrit Forst (eds), Whistleblowing - A Comparative Study (Springer, 2016). google scholar
• Brand, V, “The Ethics of Corporate Whistleblowing Rewards” in Lombard, Sulette, Brand, Vivienne and Austun, Janet (edn) Corporate Whistleblowing Regulation, Theory, Practice, and Design (Springer, 2020). google scholar
• Civan, O. E, İşçinin Yan Yükümlülükleri (Beta, 2020). google scholar
• Collins, H., Ewing, K. D. and Mccolgan, A., Labour Law (Cambridge University, 2012). google scholar
• Çelik, N., Caniklioğlu, N., Canbolat, T., and Özkaraca, E., İş Hukuku Dersleri (36th. Edn., Beta, 2023). google scholar
• Demir, F., Güvenç, D. ‘İşçinin Sadakat Borcu Ve Uygulaması’, (2019) 11(1) Kamu İş Dergisi, 1-37. google scholar
• Dzida, B., “Wann dürfen Arbeitnehmer gegen ihren Vorgesetzten Anzeige erstatten?” (2021) 6, ArbRB 190-193. google scholar
• Ekmekçi, Ö., and Yiğit, E., Bireysel İş Hukuku Dersleri (5th Edn., Onikilevha, 2023). google scholar
• Ekonomi, M., İş Hukuku - Ferdi İş Hukuku, (1st. Edn. V 1, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, 1976). google scholar
• Ertürk, A. Türk İş Hukukunda İşçinin Sadakat Borcu (Onikilevha, 2010). google scholar
• European Committee on Legal Co-operation, ‘Protection of Whistleblowers’ <https://www.coe.int/ en/web/cdcj/activities/protecting-whistleblowers> accessed 09.09.2024. google scholar
• European Parliament, ‘Protecting whistle-blowers in the EU’ (September 2024) 2. <https://www. europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2023/747103/EPRS_BRI(2023)747103_EN.pdf> accessed 09/09/2024. google scholar
• Eyrenci, Ö., Taşkent, S., Ulucan, D., and Baskan, E., Bireysel İş Hukuku (10th. Edn., Beta, 2020). google scholar
• Eroğluer, K., and Sarıbay Öztürk, G., “İş Hukuku ve Örgütsel Boyutuyla Haber Uçurma (Whistleblowing)” in Sevinç Köse and Mustafa Alp (eds), Örgütsel Davranış ve İş Hukukuna Yansımaları (Seçkin, 2020) 343-384. google scholar
• Gültekin, F., İşçinin İfade Özgürlüğü (Onikilevha, 2024). google scholar
• Hahn, F and Kackenmeister, L. Arbeitszeitrecht in Frank Hahn, Gerhard Pfeiffer and Jens Schubert (Nomos, 2018). google scholar
• Larmer, R. A., “Whistleblowing and Employee Loyalty” (1992) 11(2) Journal of Business Ethics) 125-128. google scholar
• Lewis, D., “Whistleblowing in A Changing Legal Climate: Is It Time to Revisit Our Approach to Trust and Loyalty at The Workplace?” (2011) 20(1) Business Ethics 71-87. google scholar
• Lombard, S., “Regulatory Policies and Practices to Optimize Corporate Whistleblowing: A Comparative Analysis” in Sulette Lombard, Vivienne Brand and Janet Austin (eds), Corporate Whistleblowing Regulation, Theory, Practice, and Design (Springer, 2020). google scholar
• Mollamahmutoğlu, H., Astarlı, M., and Baysal, U., İş Hukuku (7th Edn. LYKEION, 2022). google scholar
• Mrowiec, D., ‘Factors Influencing Internal Whistleblowing. A Systematic Review of the Literature’ (2022) 44 Journal of Economics and Management, 142-186. google scholar
• Myers, A. Protection of Whistleblowers (Council of Europe, 2022). <https://rm.coe.int/cdcj-2022-01-evaluation-report-on-recommendation-cmrec-2014-7p/1680a6fee1> accessed 09.09.2024. google scholar
• Parliamentary Assembly, ‘Resolution 1729 Final Version Protection of “Whistle-blowers”’ <http:// assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=17851#:~:text=the%20 public%20interest.-, 6.2.,other%20punitive%20or%20discriminatory%20treatment> accessed 09.09.2024. google scholar
• Santoro, D., and Kumar, M.., Speaking Truth to Power - A Theory of Whistleblowing, (1st, Springer, 2018). google scholar
• Stappers, J. T., “EU Whistleblower Protection Directive: Europe on Whistleblowing” (2021) 22 ERA Forum, 87-100. google scholar
• Sümer, H. H., İş Hukuku Uygulamaları (7th Edn., Seçkin, 2019). google scholar
• Süzek, S., İş Hukuku (21th. Edn., Beta, 2023). google scholar
• Teschke-Barle, U., Arbeitsrecht Schnell Erfasst (6th. Edn., Springen, 2006). google scholar
• Tolga, M. V., İş Hukuku (3th. Edn., Türkiye Ticaret Postası, 1958). google scholar
• Tuncay, C., “İşçinin Sadakat (Bağlılık) Yükümlülüğü”, Prof. Dr. Hayri Domaniç’e 80. Yaş Günü Armağanı (Beta, 2001) 1043-1086. google scholar
• Tunçomağ, K., Türk İş Hukuku, (1th., Edn., V. I, Sulhi Garan, 1971). google scholar
• Tunçomağ, K., and Centel, T., İş Hukukunun Esasları (9th. Edn.: Beta, 2018). google scholar
• Uşan, F. İş Hukukunda İş Sırrının Korunması (Sır Saklama ve Rekabet Yasağı) (Seçkin Yayıncılık, Ankara 2003) google scholar
• Üner, B. ‘Ifsa ve İhbar Hakki’ (2024) 10(2) Anadolu Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi. google scholar
• Wang, T. K., Fu, K-J., and Yang, K., R., “Do Good Workplace Relationships Encourage Employee Whistle-Blowing?” (2018) 41(4) Public Performance & Management Review 768-789. google scholar
• Van Waeyenberge, A., and Davies, Z., “The Whistleblower Protection Directive (2019/1937): A Satisfactory but Incomplete System” (2021) 12 European Journal of Risk Regulation, 236-244. google scholar
• Okur, ‘İş Hukukunda İşçinin Düşünceyi Açıklama Özgürlüğü’ (2016) 8(4) Kamu İş Dergisi, 1-47. google scholar