Lawmakers seek end to severance gag orders

Several state lawmakers have called on Governor Deval Patrick’s administration and state agencies to stop asking former employees to sign “gag orders’’ as part of lucrative severance and settlement agreements. The Globe reported Sunday that more than half of large severance and settlement agreements with state workers contain either confidentiality or nondisparagement clauses. They bar workers from talking about the terms of their deals or criticizing their employers. Critics say the agreements could be used to cover up questionable spending, muffle legitimate criticism of state government agencies, or hide wrongdoing by public officials. [Full Article: Boston Globe]