<
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/jul/07/uk-bosses-to-be-banned-using-ndas-cover-up-misconduct-work>
"Bosses in the UK will be banned from using non-disclosure agreements to
silence employees who have suffered harassment and discrimination in the
workplace as part of the government’s overhaul of workers’ rights.
Ministers will on Monday night table amendments to the government’s employment
rights bill to prohibit the widespread practice of using legally enforceable
NDAs to conceal unacceptable behaviour at work.
If passed, the rules would mean any future confidentiality clauses in
settlement agreements that sought to prevent a worker speaking about an
allegation of harassment – including sexual harassment – or discrimination
would be null and void.
They would also allow victims to speak freely about their experiences, while
any witnesses – including employers – would be able to call out poor conduct
and publicly support victims without the threat of being sued.
The changes being introduced to the bill, due to return to the Lords next week,
would not affect NDAs for legitimate commercial use, such as commercially
sensitive information or intellectual property in business transactions.
But they would create one of the toughest protection regimes in the world,
giving millions of workers, including those in low-paid jobs, more confidence
that inappropriate behaviour in the workplace would be dealt with.
After years of campaigning by activists, ministers have looked beyond
high-profile cases linked to the #MeToo movement to address concerns about
workers in regular employment who may not have the means or confidence to
pursue their employers through the courts to challenge “gagging orders”.
Announcing the change, Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said: “Victims
and witnesses of harassment and discrimination should never be silenced. As the
Guardian has reported on widely, this is not an issue confined to
high-profile individuals or the most powerful organisations.
“The use of NDAs to cover up abuse and harassment is growing – and sadly
amongst those in low-income or insecure employment across multiple industries
and workplaces.
“This cannot go on. That is why we are stamping out this practice and taking
action to ban any NDAs used for this purpose. My message is clear: no one
should suffer in silence and we will back workers and give survivors the voice
that they deserve.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
