Young employees are being pressured into signing confidentiality agreements after workplace injuries, amid growing concerns that workplace safety is increasingly being treated as a corporate exercise rather than a genuine duty of care.
Workers also reported feeling unable to prioritise their own safety because of financial pressures, while many said they had personally covered medical costs after suffering injuries at work.
The figures emerge as employers face increased scrutiny over workplace protections following recent employment law reforms and wider debate around the use of non-disclosure agreements in professional settings.
Safety culture under scrutiny
Research commissioned by National Accident Helpline, a UK personal injury advice and support company, found that one in six UK workers had signed a waiver or non-disclosure agreement after suffering a workplace injury.
Among workers aged 18 to 24, the figure rose to 34 percent, while 12 percent of younger respondents said they could not remember signing such an agreement.
The survey of more than 2,000 UK employees also suggested dissatisfaction with workplace safety culture remains widespread. More than half of respondents, including 56 percent of HR professionals, said health and safety measures in their organisation felt more like “box-ticking” than genuine concern for employee wellbeing.
Four in ten workers said they had felt pressured to compromise on workplace safety, while 18 percent admitted going along with unsafe practices in order to meet deadlines or targets.
One in five employees also reported paying medical costs themselves following work-related injuries, spending an average of £267 out of pocket.
In London, nearly three in ten workers said they had signed confidentiality agreements after workplace injuries, while one in three employees in the information technology sector reported the same experience.
Healthcare workers were also affected, with almost a quarter saying they had signed similar agreements.
Concerns over younger workers
John Kushnick, legal director at National Accident Helpline, warned that younger employees might not fully understand their rights when signing workplace agreements after injuries.
“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 said.
He said confidentiality agreements could not lawfully prevent workers from reporting wrongdoing or pursuing legitimate injury claims.
“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,” he said.
The survey also suggested financial insecurity may be contributing to unsafe workplace behaviour.
Twelve percent of respondents said they would not survive financially at all if they suffered an injury tomorrow, while others reported staying in jobs they believed carried risks because they could not afford to leave.
Kushnick said rising living costs appeared to be leaving many workers feeling trapped in unsafe environments.
“These findings paint a concerning picture of health and safety in British workplaces. 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,” he said.
The research was conducted by polling firm Censuswide between 5 and 9 March 2026 among 2,006 UK workers aged 18 and over, excluding sole traders.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
