UK to Ban NDAs Silencing Workplace Harassment Victims

UK to Ban NDAs Silencing Workplace Harassment Victims
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Bosses in the UK will be banned from using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence workers who experience harassment or discrimination, The Guardian reported. Under proposed changes to the government’s employment rights bill, any confidentiality clause that blocks victims or witnesses from speaking out will be rendered void.

While NDAs for protecting commercial information will remain valid, ministers say the new rules will give millions of workers stronger protections. The move follows years of campaigning and addresses misuse of NDAs to hide misconduct, particularly in low-paid sectors.

A recent CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) survey found that one in five employers still use NDAs in harassment cases, though many support ending the practice. Announcing the overhaul, the deputy prime minister said no one should be forced to suffer in silence. The legislation is part of broader reforms to strengthen workers’ rights, including day-one protections and new family entitlements.

Campaigners welcomed the measure as a global milestone, praising whistleblowers who broke NDAs to expose abuse. Recent studies show that one in four women in the UK has faced workplace sexual assault. Similar NDA restrictions exist in Ireland, Canada, and parts of the US, but UK campaigners say more oversight is still needed.