Silencing Workers: The End of Secret Deals?

A big change is coming to how companies handle complaints. Soon, bosses won't be able to use secret deals to stop workers from talking about sexual misconduct or discrimination at work. This change is part of a new law expected to pass later this year. These secret deals, called non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), have been used to keep victims quiet. But now, any such deals that try to silence workers will be void. This means they won't hold up in court. The idea behind NDAs is to protect secret information. But over time, they've been used for other things. For example, Zelda Perkins, a former assistant to Harvey Weinstein, spoke out against him after breaking her NDA. She started a campaign to change the law. Perkins said this change is a big step forward. But she wants to see the details to make sure it works. She pointed out that many victims don't know their NDAs might not be enforceable. This makes them afraid to speak out. The problem with NDAs is that they protect the powerful, not the victims. Perkins said these deals can say anything to scare victims into silence. But now, things might be changing for the better.