Press Release  Governor Healey Issues Formal Policy Prohibiting Non-Disclosure Agreements Across Executive Branch

Boston — Governor Maura Healey today issued a written policy regarding the use of settlement agreements in executive branch offices and agencies, including for employment claims. The policy formalizes the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s pre-established approach to employee settlement agreements, including prohibiting non-disclosure agreements, requiring approval for settlements, and ensuring that settlement agreements are public records. 

“From day one, the Lieutenant Governor and I have prohibited the use of nondisclosure agreements in our administration,” said Governor Healey. “Today I’m issuing a formal, written policy for all executive department offices and agencies that codifies the policy that’s already in place.”

The policy also calls for enhanced tracking of settlement agreements across the executive branch and requires each Executive Office to issue its own public, office-specific settlement policy.  

Over the past year, the Governor’s Office has been working with the Auditor’s Office on their audit of the use of employee settlement agreements during the previous administration. Through this process, Governor Healey and her team determined it would be beneficial to publicly share many of the policies that their administration has been adhering to since taking office, and that had previously been shared with legal staff. 

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