The use of non-disclosure agreements in discrimination cases examined

19 December 2018

The Women and Equalities Committee holds the first two sessions as part of its inquiry into the use of non-disclosure agreements in discrimination cases.

The sessions will be held on Wednesday 19 December 2018.

First session

MPs question individuals who have experience of dealing directly with employees with discrimination complaints and knowledge of how NDAs are used in such cases.

The session will focus on:

how NDAs are used in discrimination cases and whether they are more likely to be used with particular types of discrimination
access to legal advice on NDAs and the role of lawyers in negotiating agreements
the effect of NDA use on individual employees and workplace culture more widely
whether the use of NDAs should be banned or restricted to prevent misuse
whether safeguards and systems could be implemented to prevent misuse.

Witnesses

Committee Room 16, Palace of Westminster.

At 09.30am

Rosalind Bragg, Director, Maternity Action
Seamus Dooley, Assistant General Secretary, National Union of Journalists
Joeli Brearley, Founder, Pregnant Then Screwed
Emma Webster, Joint CEO and Senior Solicitor, Your Employment Settlement

Second session

The Committee examines recent changes in California, where new laws to restrict the use of NDAs in sexual harassment and sex discrimination cases are coming into force.

Areas of questioning include:

operation of the new laws
public debate around the changes
operation of the legal system in California
restrictions on the use of NDAs elsewhere in the United States.

Witness (appearing via video link)

Grimond Room, Portcullis House.

At 2.30pm

Peter Rukin, Partner at Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP

Further information

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