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NDA ban a double-edged sword

09 July 2025
Issue: 8124 / Categories: Legal News , Non disclosure agreements , Employment , Harassment , Abuse
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The government is banning employers from using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of harassment and abuse

The change will be introduced through an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill.

However, Nikola Southern, partner at Kingsley Napley, warned the ban could have ‘unintended consequences’ by deterring victims from raising complaints and employers from settling claims.

‘Many victims of harassment and discrimination (including of sexual harassment) rely on NDAs to protect their own interests and identity as confidentiality can—and often does—work both ways in settlement agreements,’ Southern said.

‘Victims will have less control over what information about them and their experience makes it into the public domain.’ She said employers might be more inclined to defend the claim to protect their reputation as they may feel the information is likely to come out.

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The Employment Appeal Tribunal has now confirmed that offering a disabled employee a trial period in an alternative role can itself be a 'reasonable adjustment' under the Equality Act 2010: in this week's NLJ, Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve analyses the evolving case law
Caroline Shea KC and Richard Miller of Falcon Chambers examine the growing judicial focus on 'cynical breach' in restrictive covenant cases, in this week's issue of NLJ
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