This guide is informational. Always verify how the rules apply to your specific case.
You are here: At work → Whistleblowing at Work
The guide belongs to At work. It complements Whistleblower against authority: here is the track when the employer is a company, an association, or a municipality, and when the report concerns the operation you work in.
Internal and External Channel
Employers with at least 50 employees must have an internal whistleblowing channel. You should be able to report in writing and orally, receive confirmation within seven days, and feedback within three months as a general rule. External reporting is directed to the authority responsible for the specific area – Arbetsmiljöverket publishes the list.
When the Reprisals Come
Reassignment, silence, withdrawal of duties, warning, or termination following a report should be treated as a separate case. Document the chain: report → confirmation → what happened to you. See when it creaksI'm sorry, but it seems there is no text provided for translation. Could you please provide the Swedish legal-information text you would like translated into English? Reassignment and Termination.
Evidentiary relief may be available under the whistleblower protection law when you demonstrate circumstances that provide reason to believe that a reprisal is connected to the reporting. Retain the confirmation from the channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to go internally first?
Not always. An external channel may be appropriate if internal reporting is pointless, those responsible are involved, evidence may be destroyed, or you risk retaliation.
Does the law apply to a small company?
The requirement for an internal channel is linked to the number of employees. Protection against retaliation and the right to report externally may still be relevant. Check current thresholds with Arbetsmiljöverket.
Can I be anonymous?
Internal channels should be able to receive reports. Anonymity is not always practically possible if the matter is narrow. External channels and whistleblower protection in the public sector are different tools.
Sources
Reviewed: September 14, 2026.
- Act (2021:890) on the protection of persons reporting irregularities
- Arbetsmiljöverket: whistleblowing
- List of authorities with external responsibility
For those reading under stress
The guide is intended as support when you already have a lot on your mind. You don't need to read everything at once: start with the section that matches where you are today and return when the next step becomes relevant.
Cases with authorities rarely improve by carrying everything alone. Ask for help from a support person, lawyer, or relative if you can – especially before decisions with long-term effects.
Common mistakes that make the case more difficult
- Relying only on verbal promises without short written confirmation or follow-up emails.
- Waiting to request documents until the conflict is already locked – then it becomes harder to show what was said.
- Writing so long and emotionally that the authority stops responding to the substantive issue.
- Missing deadlines for reconsideration or appeal because the decision was not read verbatim.
Mini-checklist before you leave the guide
- Do I have the date, diary/case number, and name of the person handling it (if you know)?
- Do I know what the next step is: respond, request, remind, appeal, or report?
- Have I saved emails and attachments in a place where I can find them in a week?
