Seattle Partner Discusses Washington's Silenced No More Act

Catharine Morisset was recently quoted in a Law360 article about Washington’s Silenced No More Act, a law Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law March 24, 2022. The law prohibits workplace non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) encompassing nearly all common employment claims and all employment agreements, including settlements.

Catharine said that under the new law, any employment agreement — including those with former or prospective employees or independent contractors — is prohibited if it prevents the worker from talking openly about conduct that the worker reasonably believed to be illegal or a violation of public policy.

Employers should "exercise caution before even mentioning such obligations in any workplace investigation, hiring process (other than trade secrets protection), in workplace policies such as social media use, or at separation of employment," she wrote.

 Read the full article in Law360 (subscription required).