OMD joins list of businesses to waiver NDAs in wake of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces
Omnicom-owned media agency OMD Australia has joined the list of businesses who have agreed to partially waive non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), which will allow people affected by sexual harassment in the Australian workplace to make confidential submission to the national inquiry.
OMD Australia joins other businesses who have also agreed to waive their NDAs, including KPMG, Commonwealth Bank, Telstra, Medibank, BHP and Telstra.
The movement encourages to partially waiver NDAs so those affected by sexual harassment can make confidential submissions to the National Inquiry.
Bec Brideson, founder of Venus Comms, has also supported the movement and encouraged more agencies to get involved and ‘#WaiveTogether’.
“When the industries clients got serious about sustainability, agencies implemented sustainability policies. When clients started blind recruitment processes, diversity and inclusion best practise – the advertising industry introduced the same.
“We are on the precipice of the chance to make monumental change in our workplaces where sexual harassment is so rife, especially in advertising (Agency Circle research showed 42% have experienced it) that this is the time to take the matter seriously – like our client partners are.
“Agencies should be getting on the front foot and waiving NDAs so the national inquiry can do its work. NDAs have silenced too many women and let the perpetrators continue to wreak havoc on women’s lives, confidence and career paths. If nothing changes, nothing changes,” Brideson said in a statement.
Kate Jenkins, Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner, has also showed her support for the ‘Waive Together’ movement, congratulating Ernst and Young for getting on board.
Congrats @EY_Australia on decision to #waivetogether. With @kpmgaustralia, 2 of the Big 4 consulting firms r making partial waivers of #NDAs so employees past & present can make confidential subs to the National Workplace Sexual Harassment Inquiry #AusWSH https://t.co/rdYhVUopTO pic.twitter.com/o8S3qZVncp
— Kate Jenkins (@Kate_Jenkins_) January 17, 2019
The Australian Human Rights Commission is asking individuals and organisations to tell us about their views, experiences and suggestions for change as part of the National Inquiry into sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.
You can enter your own submission here.
Linkedin
A partial waiver?
Give me a break. A waiver is there to protect both parties guilty or not.
Either sign a waiver or not.
Neither party should be left wondering.
This is unworkable.
As time will prove.
User ID not verified.
This is a cool idea for a good cause. Well done. Hopefully all agencies get on board.
User ID not verified.
Over to you IPG………
User ID not verified.
Many people have been bullied into signing NDAs, been forced to sign them under duress or in some cases dealt with obfuscation around what the NDA actually is – not even receiving a copy.
I think you’ll find this is the reason why we need to “waive together” so we can address the behaviours that are leading to the attitude that the person/employee being wronged “needs protection”. The only thing that person needs protection from is the perpetrators of poor behaviour – like the Weinsteins.
Here’s HBR’s take: https://hbr.org/2018/01/ndas-are-out-of-control-heres-what-needs-to-change
User ID not verified.