Confidential Information

Confidential Information – a lesson from the housing data leak

Barfoot & Thompson recently had to face the media, after one of their employees apparently leaked their sales data. 

This sales data is an example of the type of commercially sensitive Confidential Information that most companies have.  It clearly included a list of the names of previous customers (some of whom may be on-going customers). 

Barfoot & Thompson were able to take swift action to dismiss the employee, because they had policies in place relating to the treatment of such Confidential Information. 

Based on the outcome, we can assume that their employment contracts include clauses that confirm the need to comply with policies relating to the treatment of Confidential Information, and provide that breach of such policies may be serious misconduct, justifying immediate dismissal.  This is prudent, because when a leak of commercially sensitive data has occurred, the employer will want to block access to further data as quickly as possible. 

Your business will also have commercially sensitive information, whether in customer details, sales information, financial records, product designs or secret processes. 

If you have any concerns about your policies relating to Confidential Information, or how these interact with your Employment Contracts, contact a member of our Intellectual Property or Employment Law teams today.