The law arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers Norway, ‘Advokatfirmaet PwC‘, hired law firm BAHR to use threats of termination to try to stop an employee from whistleblowing to the government Labour Authority and Data Protection Authority.
A series of troubling events
The employee was subjected to a series of distressing work-related events during the first year and a half as a trainee attorney, in part outlined on www.pwcmisconduct.com and (in Norwegian) www.pwcsaken.no. Others in the law firm also reported having been strongly negatively affected.
PwC tried to stop whistleblowing to public authorities
The employee communicated an intent to whistleblow to the Labour Authority and Data Protection Authority. This was repeatedly referred to by the PwC law firm as unacceptable:
Additionally are Your further notices of external whistleblowing, (already effectuated?) notice of whistleblowing to the Labour Authority, and requests for data corrections to the Data Protection Authority.
PwC Norway (‘Advokatfirmaet PwC’) through its lawyers BAHR, letter 1, translation
You have furthermore notified us of external whistleblowing, about effectuated whistleblowing to the Labour Authority, and about impending (?) whistleblowing to the Data Protection Authority.
PwC Norway (‘Advokatfirmaet PwC’) through its lawyers BAHR, letter 2, translation
Termination with conditions to avoid termination
The PwC law firm initiated termination proceedings, whilst simultaneously stating that the proceedings would be voided if the employee agreed to “look forward” from the events that had taken place. At this point the employee had been off work for four months as a result of the events:
AdvPwC is aware that you are currently on sick leave. This is no hindrance to call you into a discussion for termination. If You should represent that You are unable to take part in the discussion for termination, the employer’s obligation to hold a discussion will cease, cf. the wording of the law.
PwC Norway (‘Advokatfirmaet PwC’) through its lawyers BAHR, translation
Demands that whistleblowing was stopped
The employee accepted the demand to “look forward”, with reservations for any legal rights and any claims that had arisen as a result.
The PwC law firm responded that, additionally, any external whistleblowing had to be halted and withdrawn:
… to the extent such external “whistleblowing”, complaints and mentions have already been sent, these must be withdrawn/halted … under these conditions, the termination proceedings can be considered void.
PwC Norway (‘Advokatfirmaet PwC’) through its lawyers BAHR, translation
PricewaterhouseCoopers’ law firm later refused to confirm if issuing the threat was approved by head of ‘Deals Tax’ Steinar Hareide, brother of the former Norwegian minister of transport Knut Arild Hareide.