'Culture of silence' | Government consults on stopping NDAs from being used to pressure harassment victims

The Government has launched a consultation on new regulations to stop employers from using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to cover up workplace harassment and discrimination, and is calling on the public to make their voices heard.  

As part of its plan to protect workers who speak up about wrongdoing, the Government will also be consulting in the summer on changes to the legal framework around whistleblowing, to ensure it is operating effectively. 

The consultation will be open for 12 weeks from April 15 to July 8, with changes to come into effect in 2027.

‘NDA’ refers to any agreement containing confidentiality clauses, including non-disparagement clauses. These contracts or clauses restrict what a signatory can say, or who they can tell, about something.