You report that the CBI admits to using non-disclosure agreements to silence staff (Report, FT.com, March 26).
In the US, Gretchen Carlson, a former TV host who brought sexual harassment allegations against her boss Roger Ailes, the former Fox News TV chief executive, in a high-profile lawsuit back in 2016, is introducing a new index that will rank Russell 3000 companies according to how well their legal policies empower whistleblowers, rather than protect firms from litigation and public attention.
The plan involves grading companies based on their use of forced arbitration and non-disclosure agreements.
The intention is to furnish all US workers with information on companies employing silencing mechanisms, potentially prompting companies to reassess their policies simultaneously.
In another recent story, a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase reached an $18mn settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission resulting from violations of whistleblower protection rules, wherein JPMorgan Securities allegedly asked certain retail clients on a regular basis to sign confidential release agreements, restricting them from reporting potential misconduct to the SEC.
Hopefully, the era of silencing mechanisms is waning.
The UK needs to take note of the developments across the pond.
Vera Cherepanova
Malibu, CA, US
