NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are commonly used by employers to protect their confidential information and trade secrets. However, it's important to know that NDAs are subject to certain laws and regulations in New York.

NDAs are legal contracts that prevent employees from disclosing confidential information about their employer. This could include information about the employer's products, clients, or business practices. NDAs are commonly used in industries where trade secrets are valuable, such as technology or pharmaceuticals.

Under New York law, NDAs must be reasonable in scope and duration. This means that they cannot be overly broad or long-lasting. For example, an NDA that prevents an employee from disclosing any information about their employer for the rest of their life would likely be considered unreasonable.

It's also worth noting that NDAs cannot be used to prevent an employee from reporting illegal activities or harassment in the workplace. Under New York law, employees have the right to report these types of issues without fear of retaliation or punishment.

Additionally, New York law requires that employees be given a reasonable amount of time to review and consider the NDA before signing it. Specifically, employees must be given at least 21 days to consider the agreement (or 45 days if the agreement is part of a group termination program).

Finally, it's important to understand that NDAs can have serious consequences for employees who violate them if they are found to be enforceable. Depending on the terms of the agreement, an employee could be subject to fines, lawsuits, or even criminal charges.

In summary, while NDAs can be an important tool for protecting confidential information, they must comply with certain legal requirements in order to be enforceable.

As every situation is unique, and the information provided in this blog post is intended as a general overview of the laws regarding NDAs in New York, for specific legal advice, please contact our office for a free consultation and Flat-Fee services.