The Lawdown Episode 47: Coldplay Concert Controversy; Proposed NDA Ban; and the Biting Law Firm Intern

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Emma Bartlett, Emma Sangeelee and Rachael Parker discuss the following:

1. The viral moment the US based Tech Company Astronomer’s CEO was caught on the Jumbo screen at a Coldplay concert embracing his Chief People Officer somewhat romantically. It is reported that both the CEO in question and the Chief People Officer have since resigned. We discuss the important employment-based issues a relationship between two very senior employees such as this raises. We ask what impact does a relationship like this have on a culture of a business, particularly as employers are being burdened with additional duties to protect their employees from harassment.
    
2. The newly-announced prospective ban on non-disclosure agreements in instances of discrimination and harassment. We discuss what the practical implications may be and the conflicting view as to whether this is a step in the right direction to prevent the improper silencing of victims, or whether this removes a valuable bargaining tool for individuals seeking to settle such matters.
    
3. A summer intern at a US based global law firm was expelled following a series of reports that they had bitten upwards of 10 colleagues. What considerations are there for employers who encounter an employee behaving in such unacceptable manner in the workplace?

Click here to view Gwyneth Paltrow’s 60-second ‘Thank you for your interest in Astronomer’ clip mentioned in this podcast episode – an inspired PR response to a corporate workplace crisis.