by Eric Young and Brandon Lauria

Confidentiality and employment agreements have not historically been a matter of concern for the nation’s leading securities regulator.  However, since August, the SEC has settled eight enforcement actions involving allegations of improper conduct with respect to employment agreements as part of its efforts to encourage, protect and reward whistleblowers.  If this enforcement blitz surrounding Rule 21F-17 continues, it could ultimately change the terms of confidentiality provisions at a far ranging list of employers from publicly traded companies to financial institutions to government contractors.

What is SEC Rule 21F-17?  It is the 2011 regulation adopted by the SEC as part of the rules governing its Dodd-Frank Act authorized whistleblower program.  It prohibits, with a few small exceptions, “any action to impede an individual from communicating directly with the Commission staff about a possible securities law violation, including enforcing, or threatening to enforce, a confidentiality agreement ….”  17 C.F.R. 240.21F-17(a).  In short, it bars efforts to impede whistleblowers from reporting misconduct to the SEC. Continue reading →