The New World of Work - (Page 13) the la the law and you Keeping Secrets Never Underestimate the Importance of Planning in Protecting Proprietary Information By Pau l J. Kennedy ou’re losing business and you don’t know why. Is it the troubled economy? Or is it the way you deal with clients? Have the candidates you supplied in the past had problems? Have you not provided suitable candidates? The answer could very well be that former employees are unfairly competing with you by violating their postemployment obligations. With ever-increasing employee mobility, the challenge of protecting your trade secrets and client relationships is even greater. Because client and candidate relationships are the lifeblood of any staffing company, efforts should be taken to protect these valuable assets. At a minimum, as a prudent owner of proprietary business information, you should consider these three actions: identifying confidential information, creating a workplace atmosphere mindful of confidentiality, and conducting exit interviews. Y Identify Confidential Information It may sound obvious, but taking an inventory of confidential and proprietary information you wish to protect is an essential first step. Many companies simply do not appreciate the full extent of information that provides them a competitive advantage. Certainly, client lists and client information are critical and often recognized as proprietary. However, other information, such as software programs, training materials, salary information, and employee performance reviews also may distinguish your company in the market and provide a competitive edge. Therefore, it is essential to ascertain what constitutes your confidential information. This means talking with managers, and perhaps other key employees, to find out what they consider unique to the business. Questions should include how much time and effort has been spent to develop information as well as the competitive effect on allowing it to walk out the door to another staffing company. If the information is not generally available or known in the industry, it may deserve trade secret protection. ➤ the law and you Staffing Success the law and yo 13 the law and you
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The New World of Work The New World of Work The New World of Work - (Page 1) The New World of Work - (Page 2) The New World of Work - (Page 3) The New World of Work - (Page 4) The New World of Work - (Page 5) The New World of Work - (Page 6) The New World of Work - (Page 7) The New World of Work - (Page 8) The New World of Work - (Page 9) The New World of Work - (Page 10) The New World of Work - (Page 11) The New World of Work - (Page 12) The New World of Work - (Page 13)
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