Victims of workplace abuse will no longer be silenced by gagging orders, ministers vow today.
The use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to hush up staff who have suffered sexual abuse or bullying will be banned under a new addition to Angela Rayner’s major expansion of workers’ rights.
The proposed amendment to her controversial Employment Rights Bill, due to be debated in the House of Lords next week, will mean any confidentiality clauses in settlements will be null and void if they prevent staff from speaking out about allegations of harassment or discrimination.
Witnesses to ‘abhorrent behaviour’ in offices will also be able to call it out without the threat of being sued, the Department for Business and Trade said.
It comes after a campaign led by former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh and whistleblower Zelda Perkins, who helped expose disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
On Monday night Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner said: ‘We have heard the calls from victims of harassment and discrimination to end the misuse of NDAs.
‘It is time we stamped this practice out – and this government is taking action to make that happen.
‘The Employment Rights Bill will ban any NDA used for this purpose, so that no one is forced to suffer in silence.’
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to ban gagging orders for workplace abuse
It follows a campaign led by former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh
Whistleblower Zelda Perkins, who helped expose Harvey Weinstein (pictured), was also behind the plans
And Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders said: ‘The misuse of NDAs to silence victims or harassment or discrimination is an appalling practice that this government has been determined to end.
‘These amendments will give millions of workers confidence that inappropriate behaviour in the workplace will be dealt with, not hidden, allowing them to get on with building a prosperous and successful career.’
However it represents a U-turn as until just a few months ago the Government had expressed ‘reservations’ about the ban.
According to the Sunday Times, Mr Madders said in March: ‘A worker may want to settle a dispute over harassment and receive the confidentiality protections associated with a settlement agreement.
‘The proposal may also impact on their ability to reach a settlement and avoid going to an employment tribunal, or may indeed reduce the value of such an agreement.’
