Testifying in support of HB5574: AN ACT CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT

Abstract

In this written testimony, Professor Lobel draws on her scholarship and collaborative research to explain why the law should support free speech, transparency and public disclosure of harassment, discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. Lobel argues that, in practice, nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) have expanded beyond their legitimate goals and have created silence and fear among employees who wish to speak up against their employer or former employer. Moreover, NDAs operate as anticompetitive forces in the labor market, preventing employees from sharing substantial information about work environments.

Keywords: NDAs, harassment, discrimination, settlement, competition, labor, employment, equality, transparency, #MeToo, testimony