Washington Post: NDAs can muzzle sexual harassment victims. Congress could change that.

Nearly five years after #MeToo, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation that would ensure workers can come forward with reports of sexual misconduct -- even if they signed common confidentiality agreements

(Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

A new bipartisan bill would enable workers to report workplace sexual assault and harassment even if they signed a confidentiality agreement, nearly five years after the viral #MeToo movement exposed how the common legal tools can muzzle survivors.

Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Ken Buck (R-Colo.) told The Washington Post they introduced legislation Friday that would empower survivors to report instances of abuse in the workplace. The bill, called the “Speak Out Act,” would prevent employers from enforcing nondisclosure or nondisparagement agreements (NDAs) in instances when employees and workers report sexual misconduct.