Confidentiality – Is There Any Such Thing?

In recent weeks, the media has reported on journalist Isabel Oakeshott leaking to the Daily Telegraph, nearly 100,000 messages between Matt Hancock and other government officials.

Matt Hancock allegedly said that it was a breach of trust, and potentially could be a breach of confidentiality.

So, in the context of an employment relationship, what does this mean for employers?

Confidential information is a key asset for businesses, and in some cases may amount to trade secrets. If misused by an employee for the benefit of, for example, a competing business, or leaked in the public domain, confidential information could cause reputational and/or commercial damage to that business. This is why it is always key to have clear definitions of what amounts to confidential information in an employment contract.