Jessica O'ConnorOne in three workers aged 18 to 24 have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) after suffering a workplace injury, according to research commissioned by National Accident Helpline.
The survey of 2,000 UK employees, conducted by Censuswide, found that 16% of workers overall had signed a waiver or NDA following a workplace injury, rising to 34% among younger workers.
The research also found that 29% of workers in London had signed NDAs linked to workplace injuries, while the figure reached 33% in the IT sector and 24% in healthcare.
Male employees were almost twice as likely as women to have signed a gagging agreement, at 22% compared to 12%.
Among workers aged 18 to 24, 12% said they could not remember signing the agreement.
The findings also highlighted wider concerns around workplace safety culture, with 56% of employees saying health and safety measures in their organisation felt like “box-ticking” rather than genuine care.
The same proportion of HR professionals said the same.
Meanwhile, 41% of workers said they had felt pressured to compromise on safety at work, with 18% saying they went ahead with unsafe practices to meet deadlines or targets.
The research also found that 19% of employees had personally paid medical costs linked to a workplace injury, spending an average of £267 out of pocket.
John Kushnick, legal director at National Accident Helpline, said: “A third of under-25s have signed an NDA or waiver following a workplace injury.
“These are young workers at the start of their careers, frequently without proper legal guidance, and many may believe they have signed away their right to claim compensation entirely but that isn’t necessarily the case.”
He added: “An NDA cannot lawfully prevent someone from reporting serious wrongdoing to the relevant authorities, and in many cases, it will not prevent a worker from pursuing a personal injury claim.
“Employers cannot use confidentiality agreements as a shield against legitimate claims. Every worker injured on the job needs to know they have rights and how to use them.
“These findings paint a concerning picture of health and safety in British workplaces.”
Kushnick concluded: “While employers and HR professionals are seemingly disregarding the importance of a safe working environment, many employees feel they simply cannot afford to prioritise their own safety, as the cost of living means they have no choice but to stay in roles they know carry risks.”
