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It is the policy of
the Company that the internal business affairs of the organization, particularly
confidential information and trade secrets, represent Company assets
that each employee has a continuing obligation to protect.
Information
designated as confidential may not be discussed with anyone outside the
organization and may be discussed within the organization only on a “need
to know” basis. In addition, employees have a responsibility to
avoid unnecessary disclosure of non-confidential internal information
about the Company, its customers and suppliers. Accordingly, the Company
may prohibit the use of cameras, including camera phones, in restrooms
and other designated areas in order to secure employee privacy, trade
secrets and other confidential business information. However, this employee
responsibility to safeguard internal Company affairs is not intended
to impede normal business communications and relationships.
Employees
authorized to have access to confidential information may be required
to sign special nondisclosure agreements and must treat the information
as proprietary Company property for which they are personally responsible.
Employees are prohibited from attempting to obtain confidential information
for which they have not received authorization. Employees violating this
policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination
and may be subject to legal action.
The Chief Operating Officer is responsible
for coordinating the security and control of Company information and
for approving any exceptions to this policy. Managers and supervisors
are responsible for identifying information that should be classified
as confidential and should work closely with the Chief Operating Officer
to develop procedures to secure and control that information.
All media
inquiries and other inquiries of a general nature should be referred
to the Chief Operating Officer. In addition, all press releases, publications,
speeches or other official declarations must be approved in advance.
Further, questions about employee references should be referred to the
Human Resources Department.
Employees should not discuss with the officers,
directors or employees of competing organizations any topic that might
give the impression of an illegal agreement in restraint of trade. These
prohibited topics include pricing agreements, customer allocation and
division of sales territories.
Employees are prohibited from disclosing “material
inside” information that could affect the market value of the Company’s
financial securities to anyone outside the organization until that information
has been made available to the public by management. Employees also are
prohibited from using that information for their own personal profit.
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