Harassment | Acas publishes new guidelines on NDAs

After an inquiry into the corporate culture at Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group retail empire revealed that the business magnate had allegedly used non-disclosure agreements (or NDAs) to silence employees attempting to report abuse in 2019, a government group called the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee called for current laws allowing businesses to ‘routinely use NDAs to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct’ to be changed.

Such practices are “completely unacceptable”, the committee said. Its report warned of a “cover-up culture” that may prevent victims from coming forward over fears that they may not be taken seriously.