Can an employer make employees sign confidentiality agreements prohibiting them from discussing a sexual assault that happened between 2 of thestaff?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can an employer make employees sign confidentiality agreements prohibiting them from discussing a sexual assault that happened between 2 of thestaff?
The assault happened outside of work. There was no criminal case as the victim did not press charges and has since quit her job.
Asked on March 23, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, North Carolina
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Yes, it probably can. As an "at will" employee (that is one that does not have a union/employment contract that prohibits this action or there is no company policy to the contrary), your employer can hire/fire for any reason (or no reason), increase/decrease your salary/hours, promote/demote, and generally impose requirements on you that it sees fit. In turn, you can choose to work for your employer or leave.
Note: You would also have legal protection is some form of workplace discrimination is a factor.
Finally, to the extent that charges are later filed in this matter, then employees would be free to speak to the police regarding any investigation. This is true whether or not a confidentiality agreement is in place.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.