Senate Judiciary Committee Supports Bill to Ban NDA’s in Sexual Harassment Cases

On September 15th, 2022 the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously supported a bill that aims to invalidate Non-Disclosure Agreements that prohibit the discussion of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are common in the private sector where they are often intended to protect company trade secrets, but can contain provisions that prevent employees from discussing cases of sexual harassment.

This bill is similar to laws in states like California, Illinois, and New York. The SPEAK Out Act (S.4524) and may allow more employees to hold perpetrators accountable for their sexual misconduct. The SPEAK Out Act's bipartisan support represents a victory for workers and a step towards creating safer work environments for employees.