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9.04[5] Information Protection Guidelines for EmployeesThese guidelines are very important. Read them carefully, and ask for clarification from your supervisor if at any time you are uncertain about your obligations. Company business must not be discussed off premises. Visitors to the Company must be escorted at all times. Visitors must sign in and out at the front entrance, and be escorted by a Company employee while they are on the premises. Take care not to allow access to areas which are off- limits to visitors. If you are not sure which areas are acceptable, please contact your supervisor. Documents that might contain confidential information must be stamped "CONFIDENTIAL." All department managers have a set of written procedures describing the type of confidential information likely to be generated within their departments. Be familiar with these procedures and follow them carefully. Generally, any document which contains unpublished technical or research data, internal product data or marketing or financial information must be plainly marked with the stamps which have been distributed. All personnel documents must be classified this way. If you have any doubts as to whether a document should be stamped, go ahead and stamp it. Documents which are stamped must never leave the premises except under specific arrangement with your supervisor. Photocopies must be limited to the number necessary for distribution. When a working copy is no longer needed, destroy it. Remember the overall objective: we want to keep all our confidential information within the Company. Company equipment must not be taken from the premises without written authorization. Although certain employees may find it convenient to do some work at home, this must be done only with the specific and continuing approval of your supervisor. It is the employee's responsibility to account for Company equipment and materials at all times. Employee publications and speeches on technical matters must first be submitted for review. Certain employees may have the opportunity to present papers or publish articles or books in their area of technical expertise. The Company encourages this. However, in order to be sure that confidential technical or business data are not inadvertently disclosed, all such materials must be provided in advance to your supervisor for review. If there is any disagreement concerning what should or should not be included, the matter will be given prompt attention by management. Under no circumstances may any confidential information (whether technical or not) be disclosed or described in any employee Web log ("blog") or other publication without advance permission in writing from your supervisor. All agreements and purchase orders that might involve use or disclosure of confidential information must be reviewed and approved by your department manager. This includes confidential information of the Company as well as that belonging to others. No employee below the level of department manager is authorized to accept information claimed by another person or firm as confidential, or to bind the Company to treat it as such. CONFIDENTIAL TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION What Is It? The Company develops information which it uses in its business. This information may relate to technical matters, such as the development of a new product or service, or to non-technical matters, such as marketing or financial information. All of this belongs to the Company, and together constitutes a very valuable and important asset, much like our buildings, fixtures, and inventory. Examples of confidential information (also called "trade secrets") including inventions, formulas, processes, new business ideas, customer information, marketing plans, and sales forecasts . These are just examples, of course, and the Company's confidential information includes many more specific items than are listed here. Confidential information will often be in writing or stored electronically, but even if it is not, it still is important Company property. Information carried "in a person's head" is just as entitled to protection from misuse or disclosure to others. If you ever have any questions concerning what qualifies as confidential information, or whether a particular document or piece of information is Company property, please see your supervisor. Why Is It Important? Ours is not the only business in our field. We face competition for the goods and services we sell. To stay in business, we must protect and use all our assets wisely, because that is what our competitors do. Any particular item of confidential information gives us an "edge" over our competition, but it remains useful only if we know what it is and they don't. Therefore, it is very important that confidential documents and data stay strictly within the Company. What Is Your Role In Protecting It? Studies show that most loss of confidential data occurs not through deliberate theft or industrial espionage, but simply because of employee carelessness. In another section of this handbook we have described the procedures which are necessary to protect our trade secrets. Your personal attention to following these rules may make the difference. Do not create exceptions because it seems easier or more convenient at the time. From time to time, we will issue reminders regarding steps which you should follow on particular matters. Please note these carefully. If you ever observe any violation of the Company's procedures or notice anything which makes you suspect a possible breach of security, or if you become aware of outsiders seeking access to confidential information, please advise your supervisor immediately. If your employment with the Company terminates for any reason, remember your obligation to return all materials and equipment. In addition, do not forget that your obligation to protect the Company's confidential information continues after your leave. With the cooperation of everyone who works with confidential information, we will be able to utilize this very important asset to increase the Company's success. This will benefit all of us.