End the Misuse of NDA's in Queensland
End the Misuse of NDA's in Queensland
The issue
Raylene, a dedicated disability support worker, had her 5-year career plan completely derailed due to sexual harassment incidents at her workplace. Her manager subjected her to intrusive questions about her personal life, made inappropriate comments about her body and touched her without consent. After raising a complaint, which she felt was swept under the rug, she was required to sign a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA).
An NDA is a legal contract that establishes confidentiality in relation to a sexual harassment or other workplace discrimination issue. It requires the worker who suffered harassment to keep their experience completely confidential - that is, they are not allowed to talk about what happened to them.
It forbids the victim from discussing details about their trauma – including the interaction, the company's response, and any settlement agreements – even with family, friends, or medical professionals. This leaves countless victims, like Raylene, dealing with the pervasive aftermath of these incidents in isolation, often leading to unforeseen consequences.
Recent statistics show that 75% of sexual harassment legal practitioners have never resolved a sexual harassment complaint without a strict NDA (source: Let's Talk about Confidentiality). NDA's are considered "standard".
NDA's can be a barrier to progress, given that employers and perpetrators regularly use NDAs to minimise reputational damage and accountability. Eliminating harmful cultures requires a collective response, but resolving an allegation of sexual harassment with an NDA is a decision made by only the parties to the deed.
For the sake of Raylene, for all victim-survivors living in the shadows of NDAs, and for a future where employees everywhere can work without fear of harassment or retribution for speaking out, we ask for your support.
Sign this petition to call on the Queensland Government to launch an enquiry into the misuse of NDA's in workplace matters. Give victim-survivors the liberty to voice their experiences and seek help without fear of breaking a legally-binding contract.
*Artwork of Nicky Minus from the Workers Art Collective
215
The issue
Raylene, a dedicated disability support worker, had her 5-year career plan completely derailed due to sexual harassment incidents at her workplace. Her manager subjected her to intrusive questions about her personal life, made inappropriate comments about her body and touched her without consent. After raising a complaint, which she felt was swept under the rug, she was required to sign a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA).
An NDA is a legal contract that establishes confidentiality in relation to a sexual harassment or other workplace discrimination issue. It requires the worker who suffered harassment to keep their experience completely confidential - that is, they are not allowed to talk about what happened to them.
It forbids the victim from discussing details about their trauma – including the interaction, the company's response, and any settlement agreements – even with family, friends, or medical professionals. This leaves countless victims, like Raylene, dealing with the pervasive aftermath of these incidents in isolation, often leading to unforeseen consequences.
Recent statistics show that 75% of sexual harassment legal practitioners have never resolved a sexual harassment complaint without a strict NDA (source: Let's Talk about Confidentiality). NDA's are considered "standard".
NDA's can be a barrier to progress, given that employers and perpetrators regularly use NDAs to minimise reputational damage and accountability. Eliminating harmful cultures requires a collective response, but resolving an allegation of sexual harassment with an NDA is a decision made by only the parties to the deed.
For the sake of Raylene, for all victim-survivors living in the shadows of NDAs, and for a future where employees everywhere can work without fear of harassment or retribution for speaking out, we ask for your support.
Sign this petition to call on the Queensland Government to launch an enquiry into the misuse of NDA's in workplace matters. Give victim-survivors the liberty to voice their experiences and seek help without fear of breaking a legally-binding contract.
*Artwork of Nicky Minus from the Workers Art Collective
215
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Petition created on 23 March 2025