BBC Seals Hundreds of Staff Settlement Deals

Broadcaster Tackles Disputes Before Tribunal Stage

The BBC has finalized nearly 300 settlement agreements with employees over the last decade, aiming to prevent workplace disputes from escalating to formal employment tribunals.

Secrecy Clauses Phased Out

A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that 291 such “settlement agreements” were signed between 2014 and 2024. The broadcaster confirmed that, since 2013, these agreements no longer include clauses prohibiting former staff from making negative comments about the corporation. Furthermore, in 2018, the BBC removed clauses that prevented individuals from discussing their settlement terms or the specifics of their departure.

The BBC maintains that these clauses never impeded employees from making “protected disclosures,” which would allow them to report criminal wrongdoing.

Broader Trend of NDA Restrictions

This disclosure follows an investigation by Deadline that highlighted similar practices at Channel 4, where settlement deals between 2017 and 2021 reportedly restricted former staff from speaking out. Out of 61 analyzed Channel 4 agreements, 59 contained confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses, which critics liken to non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

In response to these concerns, the UK government is advancing legislative changes to the Employment Rights Bill, with the intention of outlawing the use of NDAs to silence victims or witnesses of harassment and discrimination.

Severance Costs Highlighted

The BBC’s latest annual report indicated an expenditure of nearly £69.6 million (approximately $93 million) on severance payments for the year ending March 31. This represents the highest outlay since 2021, when the broadcaster spent £74.5 million on such departures. It is noted that employees receiving redundancy payments are not mandated to sign settlement agreements.

Confidentiality clauses remain in place for BBC settlements, specifically to safeguard commercially sensitive information that former employees may have accessed during their tenure.

According to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), settlement agreements can be a valuable tool for resolving workplace issues amicably, but reforms are being considered to ensure they do not stifle legitimate reporting of misconduct. For instance, settlement agreements can legally prevent an employee from discussing the terms of their departure or making disparaging remarks about their former employer.