Forbes: Senate Aims To End Silencing Of Sexual Harassment Victims With New NDA Bill

For the second time this year, Democratic and Republican lawmakers are coming together to curb sexual harassment at work.

Yesterday, senators introduced the Speak Out Act, a bipartisan bill targeting non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that force workers to remain silent about sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. “The more we know, the more we deter,” Senator Lindsey Graham said in a press release regarding the legislation.

The Speak Out Act targets NDAs that employees sign when hired, often referred to as predispute NDAs. Over one-third of the U.S. workforce is bound by these NDAs. Initially, companies used these agreements to protect trade secrets and intellectual property. More recently, NDAs have also been used to silence harassment victims and help employers hide misconduct at work. If it passes, the Speak Out Act will make these agreements unenforceable in sexual harassment and assault cases. A companion bill to the Speak Out Act was introduced in the House two weeks ago.