
Everyday Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements
Reforming Britain's Workplace to Stop the Silencing of Victims
Christina Julios(Author)
Bloomsbury Academic (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 10. December 2026
Book
Hardback
212 pages
979-8-8818-0453-4 (ISBN)
Description
Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) typically feature in business transactions to protect signatories' confidentiality, sensitive information and intellectual property. In recent years, however, the growth of NDA-related settlements in employment disputes involving discrimination and sexual misconduct has raised serious concerns about their purpose and potentially harmful effects. To understand the extent of the problem and how to tackle it, this book focuses on three main areas: first, it considers the scope and ethical implications of NDA misuse; second, it examines key public policy initiatives and grassroots campaigns to stop NDAs being exploited; and third, it suggests pragmatic solutions and ways forward to eradicate unethical practices.
The book outlines the complex issues and debates surrounding the use of NDAs along with countless examples and evidence from across the UK labour market. The gagging of victims by employers exacerbates the plight of vulnerable groups such as women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, while failing to address perpetrators' behavior and organizational malpractice. Against this backdrop, various public policy strategies are highlighted including, legislation, parliamentary inquiries, legal regulatory interventions and advocacy work, as well as wider international perspectives on NDA misuse. The book ultimately shines a light on the secret world of NDAs and the corporate power dynamics at its core. In doing so, it raises searching questions about the role that detrimental NDAs and those who enable them play in perpetuating discrimination and sexual transgressions in the workplace.
The book outlines the complex issues and debates surrounding the use of NDAs along with countless examples and evidence from across the UK labour market. The gagging of victims by employers exacerbates the plight of vulnerable groups such as women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, while failing to address perpetrators' behavior and organizational malpractice. Against this backdrop, various public policy strategies are highlighted including, legislation, parliamentary inquiries, legal regulatory interventions and advocacy work, as well as wider international perspectives on NDA misuse. The book ultimately shines a light on the secret world of NDAs and the corporate power dynamics at its core. In doing so, it raises searching questions about the role that detrimental NDAs and those who enable them play in perpetuating discrimination and sexual transgressions in the workplace.
Reviews / Votes
Julios offers a powerful and incisive analysis of the widespread misuse of non-disclosure agreements, revealing how they silence victims and entrench systemic injustice. Drawing on over two decades of expertise and extensive research, the book bridges questions of gender equality, ethics, and policy reform at the forefront of contemporary legal regimes. It provides rich, comparative insights spanning both the UK and the broader international landscape. An important read! -- Orly Lobel, Warren Distinguished Professor of Law, USA; director, Center for Employment & Labor Policy, University of San Diego School of Law; author, "The Equality Machine" and "You Don't Own Me" Julios' work is rigorously researched and exceptionally well cited, offering an authoritative, evidence-based examination of the everyday misuse of non-disclosure agreements in Britain. It stands as an indispensable resource for activists, illuminating a clear and practical pathway towards reform, grounded in robust legal analysis. Crucially, it anticipates and answers the many "what if?" objections so often used by institutions and individuals to delay or resist change.As both an activist and someone who has experienced harassment and institutional betrayal, I cannot overstate the value of this book. Had I possessed it at the time, it would have transformed my ability to navigate the intimidating process of refusing an NDA, providing not only an understanding of my rights, but alleviating the loneliness and isolation. This is a vital and empowering text for anyone committed to breaking the silence and advancing meaningful change. -- Emma Chapman, PhD, Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow, Outreach Coordinator for Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, UK; author, "Radio Universe" and "First Light" An unflinching account of how NDAs have been misused time and again to cover up sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination, including serious revelations in the post #MeToo era. By highlighting the voices of those directly affected, Dr. Julios urges us to consider both the private toll-and the public cost-of silence. -- Elizabeth C. Tippett, professor, University of Oregon School of Law, USA; author, "Master-Servant Doctrine: How Old Laws Haunt the Modern Workplace" Dr. Julios' new work, Everyday Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements, offers a compelling account of the forces driving the push to regulate NDAs in the UK. It vividly weaves together the real-life stories that exposed patterns of high-level abuse and efforts to silence victims, along with the powerful response by grassroots movements and public institutions that have begun to reshape the legal landscape. A must-read for American scholars, it provides an important antidote to a largely U.S.-centric #MeToo narrative. Everyday Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements is a keen reminder of both the movement's global reach and the strikingly familiar dynamics of power, abuse and cover-up that transcends jurisdictions. -- Rachel Arnow-Richman, Professor of Law & Gerald A. Rosenthal Chair in Labor & Employment Law; director, Converge for Impact, University of Florida Levin College of Law, USA The journey from NDAs being everywhere to restricting them from causing harm has been long and arduous, raising many critical issues about how our legal system can protect the vulnerable. Julios thoroughly documents and analyzes that history, offering many lessons for law reform. -- Julie Macfarlane, Member of the Order of Canada, Emerita Distinguished Professor, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada Christina Julios's Everyday Misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements is a rigorous and deeply persuasive account of how NDAs have come to shape workplace governance. Drawing on rich empirical material across sectors, it combines legal precision with institutional and sociological depth to illuminate the systemic nature of NDA misuse. What distinguishes the book is its analytical balance: it takes seriously the legitimate functions of NDAs while showing how, in practice, they frequently reinforce power asymmetries and silence vulnerable voices. A clear and well-structured reform agenda makes it as constructive as it is diagnostic. Scholars, policymakers, and practitioners will find this essential reading, and it is certain to shape future debates on legal accountability and organizational culture. -- Dina Rabie, Assistant Professor in Economics, Northeastern University, London, UK
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-8818-0453-4 (9798881804534)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Dr Christina Julios is an academic author, Visiting Honorary Associate, and Associate Lecturer at the Open University as well as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research interests include gender equality, workplace sexual misconduct, and violence against women. Dr Julios has also authored the books: Sexual Harassment in the UK Parliament (2022), Female Genital Mutilation and Social Media (2019), Forced Marriage and 'Honour' Killings in Britain (2015), and Contemporary British Identity (2008).
Content
List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1. Non-disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Ethics and the Law
Chapter 2. How #MeToo Put the Spotlight on NDAs
Chapter 3. Britain's Workforce Experience of NDA Misuse
Chapter 4. The UK Government's Response to the NDA Question
Chapter 5. Grassroots Campaigns to End the Abuse of NDAs
Chapter 6. International Perspectives on Harmful NDAs
Chapter 7. Towards NDA Reform
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Chapter 1. Non-disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Ethics and the Law
Chapter 2. How #MeToo Put the Spotlight on NDAs
Chapter 3. Britain's Workforce Experience of NDA Misuse
Chapter 4. The UK Government's Response to the NDA Question
Chapter 5. Grassroots Campaigns to End the Abuse of NDAs
Chapter 6. International Perspectives on Harmful NDAs
Chapter 7. Towards NDA Reform
Bibliography
Index
About the Author