Truth over silence: UK reforms rules for victims and witnesses of harassment
Depression caused by bullying (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
In the UK, plans are underway to ban nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that force victims and witnesses of harassment to stay silent. New amendments to the law will pave the way for public exposure of violations without fear of legal repercussions, according to The Guardian.
Lawmakers in the UK are planning to introduce significant amendments to the Workers’ Rights Bill that will fundamentally change how harassment and discrimination cases are investigated in the workplace.
The government will propose amendments that prohibit managers and employers from using nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to force affected employees and witnesses into silence.
Under the initiative, any such clauses in contracts would become legally invalid. This would allow victims to freely share their experiences publicly, and colleagues or supervisors who witnessed violations to support them without fear of legal retaliation.
According to the authors of the amendments, this move aims to break the culture of hiding harassment, discrimination, or other serious breaches of duty that, for year,s may have gone unnoticed due to fear and pressure.
If the law is passed, the UK will gain greater transparency and protection for workers, and NDA abuses will no longer serve as a shield for unscrupulous employers.
The UK recently announced a new package of sanctions against Russia in response to the use of chemical weapons. Among those targeted is Russian Major General Aleksey Rtishchev.
