Ethics expert calls on SRA to take tougher approach to NDAs – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) needs to take a tougher approach to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), a leading legal ethics expert has told MPs.’

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Legal Futures, 19th April 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ban non-disclosure agreements on workplace sexual harassment, says EHRC – Daily Telegraph

‘Non-disclosure agreements about sexual harassment in the workplace should be banned, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has said.’

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Daily Telegraph, 27th March 2018

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

SRA warning over sexual misconduct NDAs “put solicitors in difficult position” – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s warning about using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases of sexual harassment puts solicitors in a difficult position and may even discourage reporting, it has been claimed.’

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Legal Futures, 19th March 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Fox News must let Ofcom meet harassment victims, lawyer says – The Guardian

‘Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox should waive gagging orders on victims of alleged racial and sexual harassment at Fox News so they can speak to the UK media watchdog, a lawyer representing the victims has said.’

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The Guardian, 11th May 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Routine use of council gagging orders ‘leaves Britain open to corruption’ – The Independent

‘The UK has left itself open to corruption at the heart of local government, transparency campaigners warned, after it emerged that council workers have been routinely issued with gagging orders when they left public service.’

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The Independent, 3rd April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Gagging clauses are lawful and enforceable – Hardwicke Chambers

‘Periodically the topic of gagging clauses resurfaces in the press. In 2013 the revelation of large numbers of NHS employees entering into such agreements produced a mass of publicity. Interest in the topic duly stimulated, it led to recommendations by the Public Accounts Committee in the House of Commons that revised guidance from the Cabinet Office should require public sector organisations to secure approval from the Cabinet Office for special severance payments and associated compromise agreements where they relate to cases of whistleblowing.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 8th January 2015

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Watchdog warning over ‘unnecessary’ gagging clauses – BBC News

“The use of ‘gagging clauses’ risks stopping employees from speaking out about failures in the public sector, the National Audit Office has warned.”

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BBC News, 8th October 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Gagging orders explained – Daily Telegraph

“Almost 5,000 council workers and civil servants across Britain have been gagged, The Telegraph has learned. But what are gagging orders and how do they work?”

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Daily Telegraph, 2nd April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ban on NHS gagging orders – The Guardian

Posted March 14th, 2013 in contracts, health, hospitals, news, non-disclosure agreements, whistleblowers by sally

“Gagging clauses that stop departing NHS staff from speaking out about patient safety or care have been banned by the government.”

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The Guardian, 14th March 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Local authorities and NHS Trusts (1): compromise agreements, officers’ identities and gagging clauses – Panopticon

“From a FOIA perspective, local authorities and NHS Trusts have this in common: both frequently receive requests for details of compromise agreements and other details about individual officers’ employment and disciplinary records. Three recent cases before the Tribunal confirm the general trend that – absent case-specific and well-evidenced arguments – the Commissioner and Tribunal re reluctant to order disclosure of such personal data, notwithstanding the context of public sector employees.”

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Panopticon, 17th September 2012

Source: www.panopticonblog.com

Related link: Local authorities and NHS Trusts (2): unusual appeals ahead

Doctors advised against gagging order contracts – The Guardian

“Doctors are being instructed by the General Medical Council never to sign a contract with their employer containing a gagging clause that would prevent them from revealing dodgy or substandard practice.”

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The Guardian, 26th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Care Quality Commission puts gagging orders on six employees – The Guardian

“A health watchdog with responsibility for protecting NHS whistleblowers has asked at least six employees to sign confidentiality agreements that stop them from criticising the organisation publicly.”

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The Guardian, 24th January 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk