How The Defend Trade Secrets Act Affects Roofers
Safeguarding trade secrets can help put roofers in a better position to secure and retain skilled workers. The lack of skilled labor is the number one threat to the roofing industry. To hire skilled supervisors, sales staff and management, roofers often have to look to competitors rather than hire employees new to the market. Given the competitive nature and demand for skilled labor, roofers have employed a variety of tactics to not only secure “loyalty,” but protect trade secrets and proprietary information. The primary tool to enforce confidentiality is a detailed employment agreement. However, most roofing contractors have had access to The Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA). Adopted by 48 states, the USTA provides states with remedies for the misappropriation of trade secrets for companies operating in multiple states. The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA), effective May 12, now provides federal jurisdiction for trade secret misappropration. The DTSA doesn’t preempt stat...