Confidential Information Policy

During employment with XYZ, employees will learn, work with, and be entrusted with information and trade secrets that are confidential relating to the XYZ’s operations, proposed new businesses, financial condition, sales,  products and designs.  This information is not known outside of the company or even known to all of XYZ’s employees.  Examples include financial information, costs, business projections, marketing plans, customers, suppliers, designs, composites, sketches and any information that is marked confidential.  Keeping this information confidential is necessary to ensure our success.  Because this information has substantial value to XYZ, all employees must exercise the highest degree of care not to disclose any confidential information, even inadvertently (through conversations in elevators or restaurants), to any unauthorized persons in or outside the Company.

Employees, except within the scope of employment, cannot remove, make or cause to be made any copies of drawings, reports, correspondences or other writings or samples relating to the Company.  Employees cannot use for their own gain or disclosure, except within the scope of employment, any trade secrets, other confidential information, data or knowledge relating to the Company.

Employees must surrender all documents, drawings and information to the Company upon termination or employment or at any time upon the request of their Supervisor.

Sometimes even the most innocent acts or requests can result in disclosure of confidential information. Employees should always think before discussing information with a third party.  If and employee believes confidential information must be disclosed to a third party, they should consult with their Department Head. There is no excuse for disclosure or our confidential information.

Notice of Whistleblower Immunity: Under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)), an employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for disclosing a trade secret that is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (B) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this policy is intended to conflict with, or prohibits an employee from exercising rights under, that immunity.

The employees obligations under this policy shall continue after termination of employment.