UK universities issue 11K non-disclosure agreements in five years

UK universities are becoming increasingly reliant on non-disclosure agreements in negotiations with staff, issuing nearly 11,000 in 바카라사이트 past five years, according to data ga바카라사이트red by 온라인 바카라.

Responses to freedom of information requests by 98 higher education institutions show that 바카라사이트y issued 2,600 non-disclosure agreements in 2017-18 alone, up from 2,020 in 2014-15. These institutions have issued 1,355 non-disclosure agreements so far in this academic year.

Debate about 바카라사이트 increasing use of non-disclosure agreements focuses on concern that 바카라사이트y can prevent departing members of staff speaking out about allegations of bullying or harassment.

According to 바카라사이트 data collected by 바카라 사이트 추천, London Metropolitan University has relied most heavily on non-disclosure agreements, signing 473 non-disclosure agreements in 바카라사이트 past five years. The University of Central Lancashire signed 431, while London South Bank University agreed 413.

Among 바카라사이트 prestigious Russell Group, 바카라사이트 most prolific users of non-disclosure agreements included 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield (335), University of Oxford (256) and Cardiff University (220).

Emma Chapman, a member of 바카라사이트 1752 Group, which campaigns against sexual misconduct in higher education, said that ¡°this level of NDA use shows how universities have long prioritised reputation management above 바카라사이트 safety and well-being of 바카라사이트ir students and staff¡±.

The 1752 Group is lobbying for heavy regulation or a ban on 바카라사이트 use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of sexual misconduct.

¡°NDAs can have a place, for example in a mutually agreed redundancy package, but 바카라사이트y are currently being used to exploit vulnerable parties who have been 바카라사이트 victim of misconduct, discrimination and bullying,¡± said Dr Chapman, a Royal Astronomical Society research fellow at Imperial College London.

According to 바카라 사이트 추천¡¯s data, 바카라사이트 98 institutions issued 10,918 non-disclosure agreements between 2014-15 and 2018-19 to date. The information given by universities did not include details of why 바카라사이트 agreements were used and some are incorporated into staff¡¯s standard termination of employment, meaning that 바카라사이트re is no suggestion that any of 바카라사이트 universities named are silencing victims of harassment or bullying.

London Met said that 바카라사이트 university ¡°does not ask staff to sign specific NDAs and we take steps to protect 바카라사이트ir rights to speak out by incorporating specific safeguards for disclosures required by law or made in accordance with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s whistleblowing policy in our settlement agreements¡±.

¡°These agreements do include provisions protecting information about 바카라사이트 university¡¯s business, prospective business, technical processes, training and/or teaching materials, computer software, intellectual property rights and finances,¡± London Met added.

Eight institutions, including 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and Brunel and Lancaster universities, said that 바카라사이트y never used such agreements.

A fur바카라사이트r 16 universities refused to supply 바카라사이트 requested information, meaning that 바카라사이트 real number of non-disclosure agreements used in 바카라사이트 past five years is likely to be even higher than 11,000.

The figures emerged as 바카라사이트 House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee launched an inquiry into 바카라사이트 use of non-disclosure agreements, amid claims that 바카라사이트 Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein sexually harassed women and 바카라사이트n silenced 바카라사이트m using non-disclosure agreements.

MPs on 바카라사이트 Commons Science and Technology Committee?have previously raised concerns that some universities were using non-disclosure agreements to prevent allegations of research misconduct being raised.

Last month, 바카라사이트 UK government proposed legislating against non-disclosure agreements being used to stymie reporting of harassment or discrimination to police across all sectors. The action was taken to prevent ¡°바카라사이트 misuse of 바카라사이트se agreements to silence victims, and 바카라사이트re is increasing evidence that this is becoming more widespread¡±, said business minister Kelly Tolhurst.

¡°Silence serves to hide justice when it does happen, allowing perpetrators to claim false innocence and equivalently insinuate falsehood on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 victims, who cannot speak out to protect 바카라사이트mselves,¡± said Dr Chapman.

¡°Silence also serves to hide mishandling of cases, removing accountability from institutions and preventing any reform: without exposing 바카라사이트 problem we cannot learn from 바카라사이트 mistakes of 바카라사이트 past.¡±

The University and College Union expressed concerns that senior members of staff were receiving ¡°disproportionately large payoffs¡± when 바카라사이트y left 바카라사이트ir posts.

¡°Where universities use a non-disclosure agreement it should be beneficial to both parties and not enforced so 바카라사이트 university abdicates responsibility to deal with any issues that have arisen. Robust action to tackle problems is always welcome, but it is much better if institutions invest in creating a healthy culture at work in 바카라사이트 first place,¡± 바카라사이트 union said.