Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure Policy
Protects trade secrets, customer data, and confidential information during and after employment.
Every employee gets a seat — priced per employee in HR Operations, quoted with this template ready.
Rolled out to every employee at AutoZone (125,000), PetSmart (50,000+), A.S. Watson and Raley's (20,000) — and at larger retailers we are not permitted to name.
What's inside this template
Confidential Information Defined
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Confidential Information includes (without limitation): trade secrets, business strategies, financial data, customer lists, employee personal information, source code, product roadmaps, vendor contracts, and any information not generally known outside the company.
Employee Obligations
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Employees must: (a) use confidential information only for legitimate business purposes; (b) not disclose to anyone outside the company without written authorization; (c) protect physical and electronic copies appropriately; (d) return or destroy all confidential information upon separation.
Survival After Employment
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Confidentiality obligations continue after employment ends. Trade secrets are protected indefinitely. Other confidential information is protected for at least 5 years after separation, or longer where contracts or law require.
Exceptions
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Nothing in this policy prohibits employees from: (a) reporting illegal activity to government agencies (whistleblower protection); (b) discussing wages or working conditions with coworkers (NLRA Section 7); (c) responding to lawful subpoenas or court orders; (d) defending against legal claims.
Customer & Personal Data
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Customer data and employee personal information are particularly sensitive. Handle in compliance with applicable data protection laws (CCPA/CPRA, HIPAA, GLBA, GDPR for international data). Report any suspected breach within 4 hours of discovery.
Common use cases
Frequently asked questions
Can I share my salary with coworkers?
Yes — federal NLRA Section 7 protects discussions of wages and working conditions. This policy does not restrict that. State pay-transparency laws also apply.
What if I'm subpoenaed?
You may comply with a lawful subpoena or court order. Notify Legal immediately so the company can intervene if necessary to protect attorney-client privilege or trade secrets.
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Ready to use this template?
Every employee gets a seat. Request pricing for HR Operations and we quote into a workspace with Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure Policy ready.
Rolled out to every employee at AutoZone (125,000), PetSmart (50,000+), A.S. Watson and Raley's (20,000) — and at larger retailers we are not permitted to name.