Legislators from Washington have passed the House Bill 1795, dubbed the "Silenced No More Act", that targets non-disclosure agreements which attempt to silence harassment and discrimination in workplaces.
Under the house bill, the legislature acknowledged there are existing provisions in non-disclosure and non-disparagement contracts between employers and employees that want to silence victims or those with knowledge of illegal discrimination, illegal harassment, illegal retaliation, wage and hour violations, or sexual assault in the workplace.
"It is the intent of the legislature to prohibit non-disclosure and non-disparagement provisions in agreements, which defeat the strong public policy in favour of disclosure," read the bill.
The bill also wants to make "void and unenforceable" the provisions preventing an employee to disclose or discuss the conduct or existence of settlement involving the violations that occur at the workplace or at work-related events whether on or off the employment premises.
"Prohibited non-disclosure and non-disparagement provisions include those contained in employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, agreements to pay compensation in exchange for the release of a legal claim, or any other agreement between an employer and an employee," it said.
On top of that, the legislation said it is also a violation for an employer discharge, discriminate, or retaliate against an employee for discussing or disclosing illegal harassment,...
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