House OKs Tanzi bill forbidding employers from requiring gag orders on civil rights violations, criminal activity
“Nondisclosure agreements are gag orders that silence
victims and whistleblowers. No one should be legally required to stay silent
about abuses they’ve suffered or witnessed at work. Requiring NDAs like that as
a condition of employment is, in itself, an abuse because it’s a requirement
that employees sign away their own civil rights,” said Representative Tanzi (D-
Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett).
“It’s also a disservice to the
public, because it’s aimed at helping employers prevent public knowledge of
questionable or even illegal actions they may undertake. That’s really point of
the type of NDAs we are prohibiting — ensuring that the employer’s image and
bottom line are protected and prioritized above the rights of employees or the
right of the public to know.”
The legislation (2021-H 5853) forbids employers from exercising
nondisclosure or nondisparagement agreements regarding alleged violations of
civil rights or criminal conduct as a condition of employment, and voids any
contract provision already in place that violates this law.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Alana M.
DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown) is sponsoring identical
legislation (2021-S 0189).
The House bill is cosponsored by Rep. Camille FJ. Vella-Wilkinson (D-Dist. 21, Warwick), Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett), Rep. Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick), Rep. Brandon C. Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston), Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren), Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence), Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown), Rep. Mia A. Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert E. Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown).
