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Everyday Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements

Reforming Britain’s Workplace to Stop the Silencing of Victims

Everyday Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements cover

Everyday Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements

Reforming Britain’s Workplace to Stop the Silencing of Victims

Description

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) typically feature in business transactions to protect signatories' confidentiality, sensitive information and intellectual property. In recent years, however, the growth of NDA-related settlements in employment disputes involving discrimination and sexual misconduct has raised serious concerns about their purpose and potentially harmful effects. To understand the extent of the problem and how to tackle it, this book focuses on three main areas: first, it considers the scope and ethical implications of NDA misuse; second, it examines key public policy initiatives and grassroots campaigns to stop NDAs being exploited; and third, it suggests pragmatic solutions and ways forward to eradicate unethical practices.

The book outlines the complex issues and debates surrounding the use of NDAs along with countless examples and evidence from across the UK labour market. The gagging of victims by employers exacerbates the plight of vulnerable groups such as women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, while failing to address perpetrators' behavior and organizational malpractice. Against this backdrop, various public policy strategies are highlighted including, legislation, parliamentary inquiries, legal regulatory interventions and advocacy work, as well as wider international perspectives on NDA misuse. The book ultimately shines a light on the secret world of NDAs and the corporate power dynamics at its core. In doing so, it raises searching questions about the role that detrimental NDAs and those who enable them play in perpetuating discrimination and sexual transgressions in the workplace.

Accessibility Information

Additional accessibility information

  • PDF/UA-2, 1.4
  • accessibility@bloomsbury.com

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The publication contains no hazards

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Has alternative text descriptions for images

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  • Page list to go to pages from the print source version
  • Elements such as headings, tables, etc for structured navigation
  • All or substantially all textual matter is arranged in a single logical reading order

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1. Non-disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Ethics and the Law
Chapter 2. How #MeToo Put the Spotlight on NDAs
Chapter 3. Britain's Workforce Experience of NDA Misuse
Chapter 4. The UK Government's Response to the NDA Question
Chapter 5. Grassroots Campaigns to End the Abuse of NDAs
Chapter 6. International Perspectives on Harmful NDAs
Chapter 7. Towards NDA Reform
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published 12 Nov 2026
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Pages 280
ISBN 9798216475385
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Christina Julios

Dr Christina Julios is a Visiting Honorary Associa…

Author

Christina Julios

Dr Christina Julios is a Visiting Honorary Associa…

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