> The suit alleges a Google co-founder — it does not name either Larry Page or Sergey Brin — reiterated at a company all-hands meeting that anyone who leaks confidential info would be terminated.
Truly, it's shocking that Google would terminate an employee for leaking confidential data. I've never heard something so absurd. Next you'll tell me that they'll fire you for punching the CEO.
Very true, and there probably should be some case law on what truly constitutes confidential information in the employment law sense. So while, the lunch menu may be non-public information it does not constitute confidential information whose release could lead to employment termination.
Those familiar with the law put all sorts of unenforceable stuff in contracts in the hopes that the less informed will comply with stuff they really don't need to comply with.
As jgalt212 noted, putting something into a document doesn't make it enforceable.
However, I think if Google wants to fire you for revealing the menu, that's actually well within their rights. Most Google employees in the US are At Will and can be fired for almost any reason. Moreover, they have this right regardless of whether it's written down.
That sounds horrible. If it's true. Either way, once companies know this employees name the employee is probably never going to be able to work at a big company in the industry again.
Truly, it's shocking that Google would terminate an employee for leaking confidential data. I've never heard something so absurd. Next you'll tell me that they'll fire you for punching the CEO.