16.04.2026

Victims of abuse in the workplace will no longer be silenced

The Government has launched a consultation on new regulations to stop employers from using NDAs to cover up workplace harassment and discrimination – and is calling on the public to make their voices heard.

Research from the Young Women’s Trust has found that one in four young women would be reluctant to report sexual harassment at work for fear of losing their job.

As part of its commitment to protect workers who speak up about wrongdoing, the Government will also be consulting in the summer on changes to the legal framework around whistleblowing, to ensure it is operating effectively.

It comes as part of the government’s plan to build an economy based on fair competition between businesses, greater productivity in the workplace, job security for workers, and fair reward for hard work.

Employment Rights Minister, Kate Dearden said: "We are committed to ending a culture of silence and impunity and stand with all survivors of harassment and abuse in the workplace.

"These changes will ensure no one has to suffer in silence and give workers confidence that inappropriate behaviour will be dealt with.”

The NDA consultation will seek views on the details underpinning new changes– including the conditions an NDA must meet to still be valid, and who workers should be free to speak to about their experience, regardless of what they have signed.

It will also ask for views on whether protections should, in the future, be extended to a wider group of people, including agency workers and the self-employed.

New changes to void exploitative NDAs will also mean that witnesses to this abhorrent behaviour are protected from being pressured into agreements that would stop them calling it out and publicly supporting victims.

Zelda Perkins, Co-Founder of Can’t Buy My Silence said: "This consultation is a decisive moment in the fight to end the silencing of victims. The government has made a positive commitment to deliver but to make sure this legislation achieves its purpose, those who have suffered must speak up, loudly and clearly. By engaging with this consultation, victims can help ensure the legislation is strong, enforceable, and impossible to sidestep.

"This is the chance to create world-leading protections and finally stop the misuse of confidentiality agreements to hide wrongdoing.”

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